Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche potential is slowly increasing as an active weather pattern impacts Snoqualmie Pass. As you ascend in elevation, look for shallow wind slabs to avoid near ridgelines or on convex features. Early-season conditions continue to make access difficult. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    More wind and snow showers are expected on Friday. Due to a flip-flopping wind direction, shallow slabs may have developed on a variety of aspects. Use visual clues such as new cornices, actively blowing snow, or textured surfaces to help identify problematic slopes. You can then seek out features containing pillow-like drifts to steer around. Wind slabs like to form near ridgelines, rocky chutes, the base of cliffs, or on convexities. On some slopes, they may have formed over a firm crust, giving them a good sliding surface.

    (12/12/2024)

    A small crown from skiers intentionally triggering wind-drifted snow on a steep slope. 

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

Friday will be day two of a stormy period that should last into the weekend. It has been a slow ramp-up, and that will continue. Only a few snow showers are expected, accompanied by gusty winds. As this storm intensifies Friday night into Saturday, we'll get more precipitation and avalanche potential will continue to increase slowly. 

NWAC forecasters were at Alpental on Thursday working on the weather stations. Once complete, they teamed up with Summit at Snoqualmie's Pro Patrol to gather snowpack information from higher elevations. Evidence of the wind was easy to spot with fresh drifts and some small unstable pockets triggered by ski cuts. The surface was comprised of both crusts and well-settled powder, depending on its orientation to sunshine. Digging around 5000', snowpack tests did not reveal any issues in last weekend's storm snow above the 12/7 interface. At lower elevations, a subtle interface just above the 12/7 was highlighted in tilt tests, as has been the case for multiple avalanche professionals this week. Overall, the snowpack is fairly right-side-up and lacks major layers of concern -but we'll keep half an eye on that interface as it gets loaded up this weekend.

Access to snowier elevations continues to be difficult at Snoqualmie Pass. Down low, you will need to manage early-season hazards such as dirt, ice, exposed rocks, open creeks, holes, and bushes.

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