Lawinenlagebericht

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Fri
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

Warm wet weather will create the most dangerous conditions near and below the rain-snow line Thursday. You may encounter small natural loose wet avalanches, especially during periods of heavier precipitation.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    We expect rain and wet heavy snow at mid and lower elevations Thursday. This will probably result in rollerballs and a few small loose avalanches. When you find wet mushy snow on the surface or see fresh piles of teardrop shaped debris, then limit the time you spend on or under nearby steep slopes. 

    Fortunately, the limited precipitation should help keep most of these slides small. Just don’t let one push you into a creek or shove you off a cliff.

    (1/13/2023)

    Example: Wet avalanche debris from earlier this winter. 

    Photo: Trevor Kostanich

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1

    By the end of the day, you may start to find a few pockets of wind-drifted snow on exposed ridges at upper elevations. They should be rather shallow and localized. Blowing snow and small sharp cornices can help you figure out local wind patterns and which aspects could hold one of these wind-loaded pockets. While we don’t think these avalanches will pose a huge risk to you as a travel, be leery of pillow-like slabs in consequential terrain.

    (2/18/2023)

    Signs of wind loading to look for Saturday.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

A warm wet storm will bring an end to our recent stretch of cold and shower weather. Initially, the southerly flow doesn’t really favor the Pass. This should result in generally lower precipitation amounts and ultimately limit the avalanche hazard. With the bulk of the precipitation corresponding with the highest snow levels in the afternoon/evening hours, you’ll likely encounter the most dangerous conditions later in the day. 

What’s unique about this storm is where we’re starting. The snowpack is still generally cold, dry, and layer. Sure, you may find a curst on the surface on sunny slopes and at lower elevations, but below the upper few inches, the snowpack resembles mid-winter. This makes us a little uncomfortable about how the snow will respond to the warm wet conditions. There doesn’t appear to be enough water on Thursday to be much of a concern, but that could change on Friday. One way the upper snowpack could react is by producing wet slab avalanches. If you see natural slabs failing at or below the rain-snow line, dial it back, and seek out terrain away from steep open slopes. 

Recent avalanche activity at the Pass has largely consisted of small loose wet slides on steep, often rocky, slopes. One notable exception. A chunk of ice appears to have triggered a larger slide on the N side of Chair Peak. Despite its 2-3ft deep crown, the avalanche was not very wide. As it descended it carved a deep but narrow trough and deposited the debris on Snow Lake. Odd isolated avalanches like this may continue as the snowpack struggles to transition from winter to spring.

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