Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Say goodbye to the sunshine and welcome back precipitation and wind. Upper-elevation snow may not be enough to drive much avalanche hazard, but lower-elevation rain could keep the wet cycle going. Be mindful of slopes above you where large blocks of snow could fall. 

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Below the rain/snow line, additional liquid water will be entering the snowpack, possibly tipping slopes over the edge. Shed-style avalanches are erratic and impossible to predict. Although the snowpack has already been through a lot, not every slope has shed to this point. Liquid water can linger in the snowpack long after the surface starts to freeze, and that may not happen while rain is falling. At upper elevations, wind and a few inches of snow could be all that's needed to give slopes a small push. Whether glides, cornice collapses, or blocks of snow shedding from rocks, these large and unpredictable slides could occur at an hour of the day. This isn't the type of avalanche you trigger; it's the kind you avoid. Pay close attention to the terrain above you. Choose routes that help limit time traveling below crevasse-like cracks, looming cornices, or snow-covered faces.

    (3/16/2024)

    A glide crack opening on Rockface in the Alpental Ski Area. Give yourself a wide buffer below these crevasse-like openings or other precariously hanging blocks of snow.

    Photo: Alpental Ski Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

Temperatures are expected to continue to fall as wind and precipitation increase. The bulk of the activity will be on Wednesday night, with a few inches of snow possible at upper elevations and rain likely lower down. With periods of moderate winds, you might encounter a few shallow slabs on leeward slopes on Thursday morning. They shouldn't be large enough to be considered consequential avalanches but don't get tripped up by one near a terrain trap or in a chute.

Below the rain/snow line, the snow surface will likely be wet and punchy in many areas. After what the snowpack has been through this past week, it should be well-suited to handle the predicted water amounts. Over this period, hot and sunny weather has wreaked havoc on our winter snowpack. A quick transition to spring has occurred, resulting in a significant loss of snow and a widespread wet avalanche cycle. The whole spectrum of wet problems has been observed during this timeframe - loose, slab, cornice, and glides. Tree debris, open holes and creeks, and exposed ground have reappeared, creating potentially difficult travel. 

Wherever accumulations are light or non-existent, you may need to contend with firm surfaces and potentially long falls. Consider bringing the tools necessary to navigate this travel hazard.

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