Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A warm springtime storm will begin to make its way to Snoqualmie Pass on Monday. Moist surfaces or rain on snow are easy indicators that wet avalanches are possible. New fan-shaped avalanche debris or rollerballs are signs that it's time to head for simpler terrain, being mindful of slopes above you.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    This time of year, it doesn't take much for the surface to reach the threshold needed for wet avalanche activity. Recent snow could destabilize due to solar influence, rising temperatures, or wet precipitation. We could have all of those on Monday. Keep it simple - plan for wet avalanches wherever the snow surface is sticky and moist.

    Wet loose slides often start at a point near trees, rocks, or people and then fan out as they move downhill. You'll likely see other wet avalanche activity such as rollerballs, pinwheels. or snow shedding from rocky ledges whenever you encounter wet loose conditions. Make travel plans that limit your time spent on slopes over 35 degrees or areas with overhead hazards that could fail during periods of warm weather. 

    (4/7/2024)

    Multiple rounds of wet avalanches have occurred this spring. Here we see old avalanche debris in the center, and many fresh rollerballs and small slides on the right. [Holy Diver]

Avalanche Discussion

It's undoubtedly springtime. The upper snowpack started the weekend off cold but steadily transitioned toward warm and moist. Wet avalanche activity followed, with numerous small natural and human-triggered slides reported.

All reported activity was confined to the recent snow over the 4/2 melt-freeze crust. This easily identifiable interface can be found up to a foot below the surface. Temperatures and, thus, wet avalanche potential will slowly climb on Monday into Tuesday. Rain will start light but intensify on Monday night, possibly resulting in more shed-style avalanches. Snow clinging to rocky ledges, sagging cornices, or possibly glides are all concerns as the spring shed continues. It's unlikely you'll encounter dry avalanches on Monday, but if you do, it will be in upper-elevation wind-loaded terrain. 

Lower elevations contain relatively low snow coverage. But where adequate snow exists, small avalanches are possible. More likely, you'll need to manage travel hazards. Open holes/creeks, shallowly buried rocks, and refrozen avalanche debris are more prevalent down low, but they litter the landscape at all elevations. Give yourself extra time and bring the tools required to travel safely.

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