Avalanche forecast

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Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

You may be able to trigger avalanches in recently drifted snow on steep slopes just below ridges. Feel for stiff snow drifts and watch for cracks shooting through the snow to indicate the danger. There's a chance that the sun could initiate small loose avalanches on steep, sunny slopes near the Cascade crest.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Near the Cascade crest, about 6 inches of new snow accumulated by Saturday morning and was accompanied by moderate westerly wind. For Sunday, winds should be lighter with minimal blowing snow. Avalanches in recently drifted snow should be small. Use caution on leeward slopes over 35 degrees where you see deeper pillows of snow or signs of wind-drifting. If you see cracking in the snow or recent avalanches, avoid similar wind-loaded slopes. 

    (1/3/2025)

    A small skier triggered avalanche on a leeward slope on Delancey Ridge.

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

Saturday morning, a group of four backcountry tourers were involved in an avalanche accident near Kendall Peak in the Commonwealth Basin area of Snoqualmie Pass. Details are still being gathered, but the accident occurred on a SW aspect at 5600ft. All four members were caught and carried. Two were injured. The party called 911 to request assistance. Search and rescue responded to the area and brought the victims to the trailhead.

The sun will make an appearance, especially well to the east of the Cascade crest. Closer to the crests, clouds will be thicker. While there's a chance for loose avalanches on steep, sunny slopes, cold temperatures, and less snow to the east will keep them less likely. The snow from the past couple of days fell on a firm crust (southerly facing) or weak facets and surface hoar (shaded slopes). Even at the Cascade crest, there hasn't yet been enough new snow for this new interface (1/10) to be overly problematic.

On Saturday, observed reported triggering two small wind slab avalanches in Varden Creek and Willow Creek, both roughly  NW, 6,500ft. Several older layers still exist in the snowpack. Near the Cascade crest, the most consistent has been the 1/1 interface where surface hoar was buried by 4-6 inches (10-15cm). Snowpack tests have been inconsistent on the layer. While we generally don’t expect this storm to change that, you can’t write off an isolated slab failing on this interface. 

On Thursday, an NWAC forecaster on Sweetgrass Butte found a generally strong and well-settled snowpack with widespread facets and some surface hoar on the surface of all but southeast through southwest aspects. An older weak layer of facets, 10" below the surface, produced sudden test results but didn't propagate in large columns. Similar to the Jan 1st buried surface hoar, found elsewhere, This could be a layer to watch on leeward, loaded slopes. 

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