Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Hopefully Santa brought you some Gore-Tex, because it's going to be windy and damp on Christmas Day. Look for wind slabs to develop up high on a variety of aspects, while lower elevations become moist with the potential for wet slides. No matter where you travel, you'll need to contend with early-season hazards.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    It should be another blustery day at Snoqualmie Pass, but a notch less windy than what we experienced on Wednesday. The wind direction is expected to shift multiple times throughout the forecast period, potentially leading to shallow slabs forming on a variety of aspects. With only a few inches of new snow expected and several windy days already this week, the question becomes - how much snow is left to blow around? Our hunch is that there's still plenty, particularly up high.

    Look out for sensitive wind slabs near rocky features such as the base of cliffs, in confined chutes, or on convex features. Textured surfaces, large pillow-like drifts, or firm, hollow-feeling snow are all indications that the snow may be unstable and you should head for sheltered, lower-angled terrain.

    (12/23/2025)

    Upper elevations are filling in nicely and have a higher potential for avalanches. At least one sizable slab was visible during this quick glance at the Chair Peak area.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Down low, the snow got wet on Wednesday and may do so again on Thursday. This time, however, a surface crust will likely have formed overnight, and less precipitation is forecast. But we're still expecting rising freezing levels and drippy conditions, so there remains a possibility of wet avalanches.

    Although less likely than on Wednesday, any wet slide should behave similarly. It will start at a point, such as near rocks or trees, and then fan out as it moves downhill. Don't let one push you into a terrain trap or into the many exposed natural hazards that still exist in the mountains right now.

    (12/24/2025)

    Wet avalanche activity, such as rollerballs and snow shedding from trees and rocks, was observed at Snoqualmie Pass on 12/24. 

    Photo: Matt Hitchcock

Avalanche Discussion

Happy Holidays from us here at NWAC! Obviously, many of you have been naughty this year, because the nice, dry snow we've had for the last week is being devastated by strong winds up high, and it's getting moist and dense down low. Some of you must be on the nice list, however. Because coverage around the Pass has improved significantly over the last week, allowing people to poke and prod deeper into the snow-covered mountains. Although observations remain limited from middle and upper elevations, we do know that the snowpack is deeper, drier, and holds a higher potential for avalanches. 

Christmas Day should be very similar to Wednesday, but with slightly less impactful weather. Additionally, the snowpack has already had a day to become accustomed to the current weather pattern as temperatures crept up the mountainside and winds howled from various directions. Thus, a slight reduction in avalanche hazard is warranted for Thursday. But keep an eye on how the snow surface is changing throughout the day as temperatures rise. Is a surface crust breaking down and becoming moist? Are a few inches of fresh snow blowing around in stronger than forecast winds? These observations can help you identify your primary avalanche problem and how to manage the hazard. 

Lastly, it wasn't that long ago that we had major atmospheric river events totally saturate our soil, weakening the roots of many trees. We've already survived one round of wind, but another is on our doorstep. Be cautious when traveling in the forest - trees may be more prone to falling than usual, and snow shedding as "tree bombs" could fall without warning. Add it to the list of early-season hazards you'll need to manage, along with open creeks, downed trees, and exposed rocks.

State and local resources are working diligently to reduce the impacts of destructive storms that occurred earlier this month. We can help by respecting affected communities, complying with road closures, and adhering to ski area uphill travel policies.

Regions covered