Snoqualmie Pass

The winds are shifting back easterly and will be accompanied by a trace of new snow. Wind slabs could exist on various aspects at upper elevations due to the shifting wind direction this week. Take a peek at the upper snowpack for a slab over weak crusts if you’re traveling in consequential terrain.

Snow height around the zone increases dramatically at the Pass proper and as you ascend through the middle elevation band. The upper snowpack consists of a series of crusts and dry snow, while the lower snowpack is strong and compact. Two of these crusts, the 12/22 and the 12/25 interfaces, have the characteristics of layers that could give us trouble in the future if we receive a significant load. You may want to examine these layers before jumping into consequential terrain. 

On Thursday, avalanche professionals in the Alpental Valley reported wind drifts that were stubborn due to the warm moisture that has seeped into our snowpack. They could be more reactive if you are traveling into extreme or high alpine terrain. 

We’re in a persistent pattern this week of shifting winds and light precipitation- either snow, drizzle, or freezing rain, depending on elevation. This will continue on Friday as the east winds kick back up. They shouldn’t be as strong as they were on Wednesday. They are expected to be powerful enough to move snow around and coat trees, rocks, and infrastructure with rime or freezing rain.

During your travels, you’ll likely encounter slopes that are stripped down to a frozen crust, pockets of wind-drifted snow, and areas of moist snow capable of producing rollerballs and small wet avalanches. Despite the less-than-ideal snow coverage, backcountry travelers have started to push into terrain this week that many have avoided. With careful and thoughtful travel, you can have a nice day out in the mountains by avoiding the open creeks, exposed rocks, and sometimes firm snow surfaces. We want to hear about those days out, so submit an observation and let us know what you're up to.