Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

UPDATE: Increased avalanche danger at middle and lower elevations due to more snow than expected. Changed primary avalanche problem to Storm Slab, to reflect the potential for avalanches on all steep open slopes. Expect the danger to increase substantially as you ascend. 

Springtime can bring quickly changing avalanche conditions. Watch out for deeper pockets of wind drifted snow in exposed terrain. If the sun comes out, natural wet loose avalanches could release on steeper sunny slopes. Choose routes with plenty of options to adapt to dynamic conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    By Wednesday morning, there could be more than a foot of fresh snow at middle and upper elevations. Cooling temperatures and an end to the intense precipitation should help. However, piles of wind drifted snow likely formed near ridgelines, below cliffs, and along exposed mid-slope features. These fresh wind slabs will need time to heal. 

    If you start to notice small signs of wind transported snow at lower elevations, expect slabs to only get larger and more dangerous as you ascend. Give steep wind loaded slopes a wide berth, and seek out more sheltered or lower angle terrain. 

    In less wind affected areas, we expect mostly right-side-up storm snow. However, take the time to check before committing to steep open terrain. Hand pits, hand shears, and small steep slopes can help you observe the new snow and how it’s bonding to the old crust. If it fails in blocks or slides easily, dial it back and assume all steep slopes, regardless of the wind, are dangerous.

    (2/20/2026)

    Example: Subtle signs of wind loading along exposed ridges. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

  • Loose Wet

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

    This problem is an “if-then” issue. If the sun comes out, then you’ll probably see rollerballs and natural loose avalanches. It may not take more than a few small breaks in the clouds or a bit of filtered sunshine to set this in motion. If you start to feel the sunshine, the snowpack probably is too. Snow shedding from trees and rocks is also a great clue. This problem could turn on quickly, so be ready to minimize your exposure to the slopes above you. Fortunately, these avalanches will be limited by how much snow is on the ground and the size of the terrain. Watch out for areas below big, rocky south facing slopes where the largest avalanches may occur.

    (2/10/2026)

    Example: A natural wet loose avalanche that originated near a snowy cliff. Although not large, these slides are dense. You don't want one to push you into a terrain trap. 

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

You may notice a big difference in conditions from lower to higher elevations, and from start to finish on Wednesday. Not too surprising, given the springtime weather. Combine that with way less recent on the ground information, and it gives us a greater level of uncertainty about the forecast. This storm is a return to more winter-like conditions. Don’t get stuck in a spring travel rut. Take the time to poke and prod the new snow. Fortunately, you won’t have to dig too deep, and the old surface should be pretty obvious. We think the storm snow will have bonded well to the old, warm, irregular surface, but that might change by elevation. 

Below the old surface, the upper snowpack is strong thanks to several stout crusts, including the foot thick 3/25 layer. At the moment we aren’t worried about any weak snow below this crust. 

The fresh snow should certainly help travel, but it might also help hide some of the nasty obstacles. Don’t let the powder fool you, coverage is still thin, creeks are open, and random holes abound. 

Regions covered