Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Snoqualmie Pass.
It is a stretch to find a primary avalanche problem Saturday, but some sunshine later in the day, especially in the southern areas may make shallow wet snow avalanches possible.
Detailed Forecast
A few showers early Saturday should give way to mostly cloudy conditions later Saturday and cooler temperatures. The cooler temperatures should begin to refreeze surface snow and form a crust at mid and upper elevations. This should put a lid on the potential for any wet snow avalanches.Â
Loose wet avalanches are unlikely Saturday due to the cooling, some some shallow wet snow may persist.  Â
As a result of the overall low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation.
Snowpack Discussion
The latest warm and wet southwest flow directed to the Pacific Northwest brought several inches to around a foot of water to the west slopes late last week through the weekend, falling mostly as rain. This lead to more melt at lower elevations, making many slopes below treeline nearly snow free, regardless of aspect.  Â
About 5-12 inches of heavy snow accumulated  near and above treeline ending early Tuesday west of the crest based on weather station data and reports.
Signs of loose wet activity that began Tuesday was dampened by the extensive high cloud cover on Wednesday. Despite the continued warmth and high freezing levels, several NWAC observers along the west slopes Wednesday reported no avalanche activity in the below and near treeline zones. The most recent storm snow in the upper snowpack near treeline was reported as wet and well bonded to the previous rain crust. Â
No avalanche activity has been reported over the past few days through Friday.
The mid and lower snowpack west of the crest should consist of layers of stable consolidated rounded grains or melt forms and crusts from multiple warm periods this winter.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. They generally move slowly, but can contain enough mass to cause significant damage to trees, cars or buildings. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Travel when the snow surface is colder and stronger. Plan your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the afternoon. Move to colder, shadier slopes once the snow surface turns slushly. Avoid steep, sunlit slopes above terrain traps, cliffs areas and long sustained steep pitches.
Several loose wet avalanches, and lots of pinwheels and roller balls.
Loose wet avalanches occur where water is running through the snowpack, and release at or below the trigger point. Avoid terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, or tree wells. Exit avalanche terrain when you see pinwheels, roller balls, a slushy surface, or during rain-on-snow events.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1