Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

On Tuesday, light snow showers and winds shouldn’t be enough to alter the avalanche hazard significantly. As you ascend in elevation, you may encounter some piles of wind-deposited snow to steer around. Take care while traveling at lower elevations, there are still plenty of natural hazards that could end your season early.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    If you’re going to trigger an avalanche on Tuesday, it will likely be in wind-loaded terrain at upper elevations. Multiple Wind Slabs were triggered by humans in confined gullies over the weekend. These rocky chutes are one of the multiple terrain features where the wind likes to deposit snow into deeper piles. Other likely areas where you could find Wind Slabs include convex rollovers, the base of cliffs, or on the lee side of ridgelines. Take a look for freshly built cornices, smooth “pillow-like” piles of snow, or textured surfaces to help you determine which way the wind was blowing in your location. This can help key you into aspects where you’re more likely to find a Wind Slab. If you notice that the snow surface has become firm and hollow feeling, then you have likely found a wind-loaded pocket.

    (12/3/2022)

    This skier-triggered slab in the Alpental Valley caught and carried an individual for a short distance on 12/3. No burial or injuries were reported. [Bryant Peak Couloir]

    Photo: Public Observation

Avalanche Discussion

Over the weekend, we received word of multiple human-triggered avalanches in the zone. All of these occurred in wind-loaded terrain. As mentioned above, multiple slides were reported in confined chutes or gullies. On Monday, we received a photo of a frequent flier slope at Alpental Ski Resort that had slid at some point recently. When choosing terrain, think about the consequences of being caught, even in a small slide. There are still plenty of bushes, stumps, creeks, and open holes out there that could ruin your season. Multiple observations from both professionals and recreationalists confirm that travel conditions are still in the early season stage, especially at lower elevations.

Tuesday should more or less be a continuation of Monday, with a few snow showers possible and light to moderate winds. The slightly warmer temperatures in comparison to what we have experienced lately should help the snowpack to continue to settle after last week’s stormy weather. 

As the upper snowpack consolidates, our focus will start to turn toward the lower snowpack in the coming days. We have identified two buried crusts (11/4 and 11/22) that have been associated with some weaker snow. The season is still young and we are in the process of collecting information throughout the zone. To date, we have not had any confirmed avalanches on these layers and do not currently believe that either should be in play for causing slides in the near term. However, in the neighboring East Central zone, there have been more widespread issues on these layers. Keep this in mind and take a look for yourself before committing to a slope.

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