Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Even as temperatures cool and precipitation slows, isolated natural wet avalanches could occur. Don’t linger below steep rocky slopes that still hold snow. These features could shed with little or no warning.

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Several days of rain thoroughly wet the snowpack to the ground. As the water continues to drain, it could release natural avalanches that involve most or all of this season's snowpack. These slides could take many forms: glides, wet slab, and wet loose, and are challenging to assess and predict. 

    While avalanche activity is expected to decrease, the may still occur. Slides are most likely in steep rocky terrain holding larger patches of snow. 

    In this case, you might trigger an avalanche on these slopes, but you’re more likely to encounter a natural slide descending from above. Pay attention to the areas above you. Look for routes that minimize the time you spend underneath steep rocky terrain.

    (1/14/2023)

    Example: Glide avalanches like this could occur from steep rocky slopes. 

    Photo: Alpental Pro Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

It’s been a doozy of a week at Snoqualmie Pass. Last Wednesday, there was little or no snow at lower elevations. We then built a snowpack and had two high-elevation rain events. Over 10” of water (and counting) has fallen since Thursday, mostly as rain. The Pass lost about 50% of its snowpack in the last few days. Even as the storm winds down, it will take a bit of time for the snow to heal.

With such a wet and wild week, travel hazards could pose a very real danger. Look out for raging creeks, open holes, exposed obstacles, and wet, punchy snow. 

As temperatures slowly cool, snow should return to the highest elevations. Eventually, very small pockets of wind-drifted snow could form. 

Outside of weather stations and a few intrepid travelers, observations have been extremely limited. The full effects of these rain events remain unknown.

Regions covered