Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Your chances of triggering an avalanche increase as you move into deeper snow and more wind-exposed terrain. Leeward-facing slopes, ridgelines, and even openings between trees may hold unstable wind-drifted snow. Actively blowing snow, fresh cornices, and lens-shaped snow surfaces are all signs of potential wind loading; favor lower-angle, wind-sheltered terrain for safer travel.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Observers reported wind-affected snow at mid and upper elevations around Snoqualmie Pass on Monday. With continued snowfall and wind, unstable drifts and slabs may increase in both size and frequency across the zone on Tuesday. Look for unstable drifts in common locations such as below ridgelines, along cliff bands, and on exposed leeward-facing slopes. However, with the strong winds, loading may also occur in less typical areas, such as lower on slopes, between tree islands, and along the sides of gullies. The recently formed crust (the 3/8 crust) beneath the new snow could allow for avalanches to slide easier than usual.

    Using visual clues to identify and avoid potentially wind-loaded terrain will be your best tool for managing this problem. Wind-scoured surfaces, deeply drifted pockets, sharp wind lips, and fresh cornices are all good indicators of wind loading nearby. If you start to see these features, stick to sheltered or lower-angle terrain.

     

    (2/10/2026)

    Actively blowing snow, wind texture, and a pillow-like drift on this rocky ridgeline of Chair Peak. Signs that wind slabs may have formed.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

It's been quite a while, but cold, dry snow has finally returned to Snoqualmie Pass! By Monday evening, 7 inches have accumulated at lower elevations, with up to 12 inches at middle and upper elevations. Observers reported wind-affected snow starting around 4,500 feet and above, with moderate to strong wind blowing at ridgeline throughout Monday. Overnight, wind gusts reached 50 mph at ridgetops. Temperatures stayed below freezing all day at the trailhead level.

Moderate snowfall and wind will continue overnight into Tuesday, with snow levels still below trailhead level. A light warm-up may begin in the late afternoon. 

The snowpack now consists of the fresh low-density snow on top of a firm, supportable crust (the 3/8 crust). Below the crust are multiple interfaces of varying large-grained meltform down to the 2/13 and 2/7 weak layers. Before the snowfall, the snowpack had not experienced a refreeze for multiple days. Warm temperatures combined with widespread rain had softened the old snow all the way down to the 2/13 and 2/7, presenting a risk of larger wet avalanches on these deeper layers or rocky slopes. Fortunately, the recent cold temperatures have allowed the upper snowpack to firm up and turn supportable once again, but we are not completely out of the woods. As cold temperatures continue, there's still a small chance of a deeper wet avalanche failing on these layers or shedding off rocks.

All this cold, low-density snow is great to see, but it's going to take a lot more to improve the overall snow coverage. It's still thin out there, and the light snow won't prevent you from hitting any previously exposed objects. Travel cautiously in areas of low snow coverage. 

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