Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

East winds will be strong enough to drift snow into fresh wind slabs on Wednesday. The question becomes - how much snow is available for transport? With a few inches in place and another dusting on the way, there should be enough for you to want to avoid wind-loaded features.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You could find shallow wind slabs on a variety of features on Wednesday. It should be the windiest day of the week, and low-density snow is available for transport. Due to an atypical wind direction, you could find that slabs have developed on aspects you’re not accustomed to. Look for fresh cornices, drifts behind objects, or textured surfaces to help determine which way the wind was blowing and thus wind-loaded slopes. Cracking of the snow surface or fat pillow-like drifts are signs that you’ve found a wind slab, and you should retreat to lower-angled terrain. They’ll be more likely near rocky features or ridgelines.

    (12/23/2023)

    A thin slab avalanche that released during a period of heavy snowfall and winds.  Similar avalanches could occur during this event.

    Photo: Luke Wright

Avalanche Discussion

The Pass proper picked up roughly 2-4 inches of new snow on Tuesday evening, along with some freezing rain. Overall, it wasn’t a bad result from our third atmospheric river of the season. Backcountry travelers in the Alpental Valley noted a natural avalanche on Bryant Peak and new rollerballs as the sun helped snow shed from trees and rocks.

You can anticipate similar conditions on Wednesday, except the wind should be much stronger. If you’re in the western part of the zone or in the foothills near North Bend, you’ll be in the bullseye for the strongest winds. A quick shot of precipitation should deliver an inch or two of new snow and some drizzle or freezing rain at lower elevations once again. If the east winds don’t keep temperatures down and you experience rain on dry snow, then put wet avalanches on your radar on slopes over 35 degrees.

Continue to take care to avoid open creeks and holes or exposed rocks and logs while traveling in the mountains. Even though we’re approaching the turn of the year, conditions are still in an “early-season” phase.

Regions covered