Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A few inches of soft snow might hide firmer and thicker slabs on wind loaded slopes. Look for large drifts and sharp cornices to point toward potential slabs. At lower elevations, open creeks, exposed logs, and downed debris could make travel tricky.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    We don’t know much about potential wind slabs at the Pass. What we do know is that it snowed and the wind blew. Set out expecting to find wind loaded slopes until you can prove otherwise. You’re most likely to encounter wind slabs at higher elevations, below cornices, in the tops of chutes, and along the base of cliffs. 

    A few inches of new snow could make it a bit harder to spot these firm pillow-like slabs. Keep a keen eye out for signs of wind transported snow and pay attention to how the snow feels underneath you. 

    With the mild weather, this problem could heal quickly. However, very steep terrain, unsupported slopes, and convex rollovers often produce avalanches even when more planar slopes stop failing.

    (3/10/2025)

    Quick signs of highlighting local wind patterns in an exposed opening. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

The Pass picked up a surprise 6-8 inches of snow at the top of Alpental Monday night. This is a great example of how spring showers can be hard to predict. While we aren’t expecting much additional snow Tuesday night, a Puget Sound Convergence Zone could exceed expectations again if it lines up over the Pass. This narrow band of precipitation might result in a quick 1-3 inches of extra snow. That’s not enough to increase the hazard, but it could make identifying those wind slabs a bit harder, or increase the size of any wet loose slides. 

It’s spring, and while we think it should stay cloudy on Wednesday, sky forecasting is tricky business. If the sun comes out, the new snow will slide downhill. If it doesn’t… it won’t. With a strong April sun, you may only need a bit of filtered sunshine to set wet loose avalanches in motion. If you feel the snow surface getting wet and sticky and notice the sky getting thin, anticipate natural wet loose slides off very steep southerly slopes. 

The chance of wet shed-style avalanches continues to drop. At this point, it would likely be a blob of snow falling off a rocky face. Keep an eye on the terrain above you and don’t linger under very steep and rocky slopes. 

At lower elevations, the snowpack is beat up. The few inches of new snow probably didn’t help travel much if at all. Expect areas of bare ground, open creeks, and plenty of tree debris. The snowpack is particularly thin on southerly slopes. Give yourself some time to deal with these “low-tide” conditions.

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