Snoqualmie Pass

Travelling across firm, and beat-up snow surfaces will be the main hazard on Tuesday. A change in weather will bring overcast skies and maybe a flurry or two, but avalanche danger will be minimal. Plan for rough travel conditions, and ever-changing snow access.

It’s safe to say the NWAC staff are ready for snow to return. Fortunately, precipitation is finally in the forecast, albeit light and fairly unimpactful. Monday offered the first signs of a shifting weather pattern: southwesterly winds picked up, the persistent temperature inversion weakened, and Pass-level clouds largely cleared out.

Tuesday will bring more of the same, with increasing cloud cover, easterly wind, and a chance of flurries later in the day. Tuesdays avalanche hazard will be largely unchanged from previous days. Snow surfaces across Snoqualmie Pass are still very firm, with minimal daytime softening. As a result, the primary hazards remain icy snow surfaces, open creeks, exposed rocks and logs, along with the risk of an uncontrolled sliding fall.

Sliding falls can happen quick, and multiple incidents have recently been reported throughout the Cascades. It's best to give slopes a good look before committing to anything steep. Give yourself a backup plan if the terrain is too icy to travel safely. Be sure to wear a helmet, and consider an ice axe and crampons for the steep stuff.

Over the past several days, observers have reported early signs of weakening snow structure across Snoqualmie Pass and the southern Cascades. While this is not currently affecting avalanche danger, these weak snow grains could be an issue once significant snowfall returns. For now, we’ll keep an eye on them.