Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Friday will continue to bring wet avalanche activity, with climbing snow levels pushing rain and dense snow into the upper elevations. Areas of deeper new snow will pose the greatest risk, where more snow can be entrained. Small, unstable wind drifts may linger along ridgelines and cliff bands.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Warming will continue on Friday, pushing the snow-rain line into upper elevations. It doesn't need to be rain-on-snow to cause wet avalanche activity; it could just be wet, heavy snow falling on drier, light snow. In this case, we will likely see both throughout the Pass. As the day warms up and the snow-rain line climbs, previously dry, new snow will begin to pick up water and potentially destabilize. The greatest hazard will be at middle and upper elevations, where deeper new snow exists, allowing for deeper and larger wet loose avalanche activity.

    The best way to manage this problem is to limit your exposure. Pay close attention to the snow under your feet; if it feels heavy, wet, or sticky, then you might be able to trigger a wet avalanche. Avoid large, steep slopes with heavy wet snow, and don’t linger beneath cliffs or steep terrain where natural shedding could occur. 

    (1/29/2026)

    Rollerballs and tiny wet loose slides occurred  naturally on very steep rocky faces.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind speeds have remained fairly light in the Pass, limiting wind loading to the upper elevation band. You're most likely to find an unstable drift or slab near and below ridgelines, on leeward facing aspects, and up against cliff bands. If triggered, these avalanches are expected to be fairly small, but that doesn't mean they aren't dangerous.

    Pay extra attention to the snow underfoot as you exit a ridgeline or move onto a steep rollover. Wind loaded slopes often hold unusually deep and dense snow, with a lens or pillow shape to the surface. If the slope appears a little extra wind loaded or deep, consider an alternative, wind sheltered route.

    (1/3/2026)

    Visual clues of recent wind loading and 'fat' pillow-like slabs.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

It was a wet and soggy day in Snoqualmie Pass. Thankfully, the easterly flow helped to keep snow levels lower than anticipated, bringing a rain/snow mix to Pass level through the first half of the day. Snow levels rose to 3,500 feet in the afternoon.

Forecasters took a trip up to Draft Dodger Ridge in the Alpental Valley, where they found 8 inches of snow since Tuesday. Lower elevations picked up closer to 4 inches. Several small avalanches were spotted shedding off The Tooth and Hemlock Peaks, but no wind slab activity was noted. A subtle interface was found within the new snow, a crust that formed sometime on January 28th during warmer temperatures. 

Friday will be another wet day in the Pass, and unfortunately, the east flow might not save us from full rain this time. Snow levels will climb to 6,500 feet, impacting the drier snow at upper elevations. Wet loose avalanche activity will be the primary concern, but a small wind slab at upper elevations or a strange combo wet-wind slab might also occur. 

Weak grains in the form of surface hoar and faceting snow crystals now sit between the recent storm snow and the old crusty snow; we are calling it the “January Drought Interface”. As of now, no avalanche activity has been reported on the January Drought Interface. 

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