Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Fresh pockets of wind-drifted snow could form Thursday night into Friday morning. Look for firmer and thicker slabs near ridges and exposed rocky areas. In these spots, you could trigger avalanches, some big enough to bury you. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Additional snow and strong winds should easily build new slabs in the Snoqualmie area. They could be more than a foot thick and might trigger easily. 

    Look for classic signs of wind-transported snow. Sharp drifts, textured surfaces, small cornices, and blowing snow can all point toward potential wind slabs. These clues also give you an indication of local wind patterns that loaded different aspects. 

    Steer around steep features with pillow-like drifts. With such a thin early-season snowpack, even a small avalanche that knocks you off your feet could take you for a nasty ride through rocks and trees. 

    Outside of wind-affected areas, cooling temperatures and decreasing precipitation should limit any slab development. Instead, you may encounter loose dry avalanches in very steep terrain.

    (1/24/2023) Example: Visual clues of possibly wind-loaded slopes. Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Winter returned to the Snoqualmie area on Thursday. While only a few inches of snow accumulated at Pass level, 4-6 inches fell at mid-mountain Alpental, with 6-8 inches higher in the terrain. It’s nice to see snow falling out there again!

By Friday morning, snowlevels should be well below the Pass, and storm totals could reach a foot or more at mid and upper elevations. However, a Puget Sound Convergence Zone might bring more snow than expected. If it does, more dangerous avalanche conditions could develop. In either case, things should be the touchiest in the morning. 

So far, information about the new snow is scarce. Reports from Alpental pro patrol indicate minimal wind drifting mid-day Thursday. Of course, all this new snow is accumulating on the wet, punchy snowpack from recent rain events. A more stout crust should develop as the new interface (12/6) cools. 

Even with the new snow, this week’s rain decimated the snowpack. Roaring creeks, shallowly buried rocks, open holes, and plenty of trees could make travel tricky, particularly at lower elevations.

Regions covered