Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

This period of warm sunny weather created a generally strong and spring-like snowpack. However, large slabs of snow continue to shed from steep and rocky slopes. Pay attention to the terrain above you and pick routes that help minimize the amount of time you spend under these areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    The last observed natural glide avalanche occurred on Saturday afternoon on the E face of Chair Peak. While temperatures have cooled slightly from the weekend, the sun continues to be a strong driver of water running through the snowpack. On Sunday, water could be seen and heard flowing on exposed rocks in the Alpental Valley. Predicting exactly when these avalanches may occur can be extremely tricky. Fortunately, crevasse-like glide cracks help highlight exactly which slopes should concern you. Look for these features on steep rocky terrain and then chose routes that reduce the amount of time you need to spend underneath them. While large craggy alpine areas may seem like the obvious place to encounter a glide avalanche, don’t forget about steep and rocky road cuts above forest service roads and groomed snowmobile and cross-country ski trails.

    (1/23/2022)

    Glide cracks like this can be seen on many slopes around the Snoqualmie Pass zone. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Loose wet avalanches won’t be an issue in the morning. A solid overnight freeze should keep the snow surface strong. However, as the sun starts to soften the snow, loose wet avalanches may become possible in a few isolated areas near rocks and cliffs on southerly-facing slopes. Keeping tabs on how much wet snow forms at the surface can help you anticipate loose wet avalanches. When your boot sinks into the snow past your ankle (4 inches), be leary of steep terrain in the sun. Even though these slides should remain small, don’t let them push you into a terrain trap like over a cliff or into a deep gully.

    (1/23/2022)

    Rollerballs and a small loose wet avalanche on a steep rocky and sunny slope on Chair Peak.  S aspect. 5300'. LW-N-D1-R1-S

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

If it wasn’t for the threat of isolated large natural slides, we’d probably be talking about lower avalanche danger. However, the consistent trickle of glide avalanche observations combined with the ongoing warm and sunny weather just won’t allow this problem to go away. The upper snowpack has largely transitioned to a very spring-like structure. Weeks of warm temperatures and rain produced a fairly thick and strong surface crust. Below this protective mantel, large grain melt forms and additional crust exists. Other than water running at the ground, we don't have any layers of concern. 

Long and clear winter nights will allow a solid freeze at the surface by Tuesday morning. On some slopes, this will produce icy conditions resulting in challenging and potentially dangerous travel. On shaded slopes (include in the shadows of large trees) 3-5” of soft snow from Thursday (1/20) can still be found. At upper elevations, the wind drifted this recent snow into slightly deeper pockets and scoured exposed features. Without the help of the sun, firm shaded slopes have not softened recently. When we put all these pieces together, we find we’re likely to encounter variable conditions with icy surfaces, pockets of powder, punchy wet snow, and breakable crusts.

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