Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Keep wet avalanches on your mind tomorrow, despite the decreasing danger rating. Watch for warning signs like fresh avalanches, rollerballs, or sinking past your boot tops in wet snow. Steer clear of steep, sunlit slopes if these red flags appear.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Any wet loose avalanches on Tuesday should be small and isolated to steep, south-facing slopes above 4000–4500’—especially in rocky, cliffy terrain where even a small avalanche can have high consequences. Warming will be confined to areas above the inversion clouds, but these clouds may rise or fall by a few hundred feet, potentially affecting your travel and exposure.

    Traveling on a firm crust and away from rocky and sunlit slopes is a good way to manage this hazard, as is heading for the cold snow on northerly aspects. If you are in the sun and the crust stops supporting your weight, or you see any wet avalanche red flags, switch to a cooler, less sun-affected slope.

    Remember to plan your exit. Passing beneath a steep, sunlit slope late in the day could still expose you to wet avalanche hazards. Thin cover at lower elevations continues to pose challenges, so allow extra time to navigate rocks, creeks, and exposed brush.  

    (11/28/2024)

    Very small loose snow avalanches triggered by snow shedding from the cliffs above. 

    Photo: Phil Straub - Cascade Mountain Ascents

Avalanche Discussion

Rinse and repeat! Monday marked the third day of a persistent weather pattern featuring low-level clouds, east winds, and below-freezing temperatures up to about 4000’. Above that, warm temperatures and clear skies dominated. At the Alpental summit (5470’), temperatures reached 46°F, while the base stayed much cooler at 27°F. Clear skies at higher elevations should allow for nightly refreezing of the surface, even with above-freezing overnight temperatures. This refreeze helps stabilize the snowpack and essentially "resets" the wet avalanche cycle each morning. For Tuesday, we’re expecting more of the same conditions. 

Tuesday's forecast carries some uncertainty. While we’ve seen minimal wet loose activity reported from neighboring zones, there’s limited information from the Pass itself. Additionally, it’s unclear how deep the refreeze has been at higher elevations and with that, how long the crust will remain supportable on Tuesday. With minimal changes in weather inputs, a low December sun, cooling breezes, and this being the fourth day of the same pattern, it’s reasonable to suspect the wet avalanche potential has peaked and may now be trending downward. Many slopes have had the opportunity to shed what they had to shed over the past few days, leaving less terrain susceptible to further activity.

That said, the wet avalanche hazard remains the one avalanche factor that could affect your day tomorrow. Stay observant, evaluate the slopes you’re traveling on and beneath, and stick to safe travel practices. Enjoy another beautiful day in the sun!

Regions covered