Snoqualmie Pass

Variable and at times challenging travel conditions will continue on Friday while we wait for more snow to arrive.  If the sun comes out Friday afternoon, you may see or trigger small loose wet avalanches on very steep and sunny slopes.   

Observers noted about 4-5" of snow over the Valentine's Day crust in the Snoqualmie Pass area on Wednesday and small loose wet avalanches and rollerballs that released during sunbreaks.  Persistent NW ridgeline winds have moved snow along ridgelines and sculpted exposed surfaces.  You can likely find areas of wind-drifted snow below ridgelines or rock-walled gullies, but lingering wind slabs should be thin and difficult to trigger.  While the clouds dominated the weather on Thursday, more sunshine is possible Friday afternoon, especially east of the Pass.  Be on the lookout for small wet loose avalanches that can release below rock outcroppings or on any steep slope you find yourself sinking in deeper than your ankle. 

Be prepared to encounter a variety of surface conditions like breakable crusts, icy slopes, pockets of denser wind-drifted snow, and a few inches of settled storm snow in wind and sun sheltered areas.  Be ready to navigate open creeks at lower elevations and ground hazards that have re-emerged over the last few weeks.

At least the recent weather pattern has led to a very strong and well-settled snowpack.  While you can still find the Late January Facet-Crust combo in some areas, we expect any future avalanche activity to remain at or above the more recent Valentine’s Day Crust that's much closer to the surface. 

We won't remain lost, aimlessly wandering around in a fresh snow desert forever, this is the Pacific Northwest after all and a winter storm is headed our way this weekend. If you're out on Friday, help us and your avalanche forecast by sending us your observation and pictures of the snow surfaces you find. Thanks for your support!