Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Small wet avalanches are possible on sunny slopes as early winter sunshine warms the snow surface. Steer clear of steep terrain if you notice fresh avalanches, rollerballs, pinwheels, or find yourself sinking past your boot tops into wet snow. North-facing slopes still hold cold snow and good riding, but beware of thin snow cover at lower elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    With cool overnight temperatures and clear skies, we expect a solid overnight refreeze of south-facing terrain that received direct sun on Sunday. On Monday, crusty, firm surfaces on southerlies will begin to soften as sunshine melts the snow, increasing the potential for wet loose avalanches.

    This avalanche danger will follow the sun, starting off on east-facing slopes, moving to the south, and then west. So long as you find yourself traveling on a stout crust, any concerns will be limited to steep terrain above you that may be melting faster than the slope you are on. As the crust below you starts to break down, it is time to head to a colder, less sun-affected slope.

    While north-facing terrain has likely been unaffected by the warming, you may still have to cross or pass below slopes impacted by the sun. Watch for signs of instability and minimize time spent on or under steep, sunlit slopes.

    (2/16/2024)

    An example of wet loose avalanche activity during clear skies on the southern half of the compass.

    Photo: Julz Holder - Grounding Truth

Avalanche Discussion

With the ski areas closed and low-tide conditions at the lower elevations, observations from the Pass are limited, making it challenging to assess the progression of this warm-up at middle and upper elevations. On Sunday, temperatures at 4300’ at Alpental remained well below freezing, while the summit at 5500’ reached 43°F. With that, we expect the bulk of the impact from Sunday’s warming to be limited to south-facing terrain above approximately 4500-5000’.

Monday’s conditions look similar, with temperatures climbing a few degrees higher at all elevations and a chance of sunshine at pass level. A strong overnight refreeze, minimal recent snow, and the low December sun angle suggest any wet avalanche activity on Monday should remain small and isolated to steep, south-facing slopes at middle and upper elevations.

Keep in mind the inherent uncertainty in wet avalanche prediction, and even more so with limited eyes on the terrain. Small deviations in cloud cover, wind, and where the inversion sets up can all impact the avalanche conditions. Track the crusts tomorrow, watch for changing snow surfaces, and remember that regardless of your terrain use plans, you will likely have to navigate sun exposure on your way to or from your destination, in addition to the open creeks, logs, stumps, and brush at lower elevations.

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