Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

You may find a few pockets of wind drifted snow, particularly near the tops of the higher peaks around the Pass. While these thin slabs shouldn’t pose much of a risk, don’t let them surprise you in high consequence terrain. With a big storm arriving late in the day, conditions will start to change rapidly Sunday night.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    If you’re going to trigger an avalanche Sunday, it will likely be in a small pocket of wind drifted snow. Fortunately, these isolated wind slabs should be relatively easy to anticipate. Look for blowing snow, textured surfaces, and sharp drifts to figure out which features you might want to avoid. While you may find an isolated wind pocket on a shaded aspect near treeline, this problem will likely be more prevalent near the tops of some of the higher peaks where more dry snow is left to blow around. Even though these potential slides should stay fairly small, don’t let them catch you off guard if you’re traveling above rough terrain.

    (4/2/2022)

    A very small isolated wind slab at Snoqualmie Pass Saturday. You may encounter similar conditions Sunday. 

    Photo: Robin Pendry

Avalanche Discussion

The Pass picked up another couple of inches of snow Friday night and Saturday, adding to the modest totals from the week. With the dynamic springtime weather, it’s no surprise that the snowpack was quickly influenced by the sun and warming temperatures. On more sunny slopes, the recent snow quickly began to incorporate into the old crust layers and added to the very spring-like upper snowpack. Piles of rollerballs and a few small loose wet avalanches were also seen. However, on northerly terrain, the snow surface remained more winter-like and much drier. While you may find a few weaker layers within the recent snow, they have been so shallow, that they don’t pose much of a risk. The recent snow sits atop the 3/30 crust on these aspects. 

At lower elevations, the snowpack is pretty beat up and has been through a lot this winter. It will take more than a dusting of snow to start to form any avalanche risk. Instead, you will likely encounter frozen rough surfaces, wet punch snow, piles of avalanche debris, and opening creeks. 

While we’ve experienced a very spring-like pattern as of late with relatively lower avalanche hazards, a major winter storm is on-deck for Sunday night. Heavy precipitation, strong winds, and fluctuating freezing levels will cause the avalanche danger to rapidly rise. Make sure you’re safely out of the mountains before it arrives late Sunday afternoon.

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