Snoqualmie Pass

Don’t be fooled by cool breezes and low elevation clouds at pass level. Warm temperatures and sunshine will be more prominent the higher in elevation you get or as the day wears on. Choose safe travel routes away from precariously hanging blocks of snow or slippery surfaces where you could take an uncontrolled fall.

You could find that temperatures are chilly and it’s cloudy when you step out of your car on Friday. However, if you ascend in elevation you should find the unseasonably warm and dry weather that has dominated our zone lately. Another day of generally safe avalanche conditions is expected, but that doesn’t mean that hazards do not exist if you choose to travel in the mountains. Here are some things for you to think about as you’re out and about.

• Temperature inversions have kept lower elevations cool, but upper slopes have been in the sunshine and temperatures have been in the 40s at times. One reason we have not been dealing with a more concerning wet avalanche cycle this week is that despite the warm weather, long and clear January nights have allowed the heat from the snowpack to radiate toward outer space, creating a surface freeze.
• That doesn’t mean that wet avalanches can’t occur. It’s just that the likelihood is lower. If snow softens enough during the daylight hours, Wet Loose avalanches could occur on steep slopes that see direct sunshine. These could be more likely near rocky outcrops or cliffs where the snowpack is shallower. Additionally, cornices could collapse due to the warm temperatures, or blocks of snow and ice could slide off smooth slopes. We had multiple large to very large avalanches of this type last weekend when temperatures skyrocketed. Be cognizant of how the snow surface is changing and if there are overhead hazards wherever you are traveling. If you are sinking in the snow past your ankle or see large crevasse-like cracks in the snow, start to think about the potential for these avalanches.
• The firmest travel conditions are typically found in the morning on all aspects and elevations. As the day wears on, snow surfaces have often been softening on slopes that see direct sunshine. Shadier slopes may see some softening, but generally speaking, they have remained firm or are variable including breakable crust or pockets of wind-deposited snow. 
• If you find that you are traveling on a firm surface, the avalanche hazard may be lower, but the travel hazard may be elevated. You should carry the equipment necessary to travel over icy slopes and be sure you are able to stop yourself in the case of a slip and uncontrollable fall. Falling a long way is obviously a scary proposition, but you don’t have to slide very far to be injured if terrain traps are involved. Choose travel routes that minimize this hazard by staying away from cliffs or other downslope dangers.

Since the snowpack is generally strong, we are not currently tracking any layers within it. However, with the hope of snow on the horizon this weekend, now is the time to start thinking about snow surfaces and how they may affect the avalanche hazard going forward. If you’re out and about, let us know what kind of surfaces you are finding in avalanche terrain. Let us know if you find weak snow such as facets or surface hoar. Or maybe you're finding stronger snow types. We'd like to hear about that too. Send a picture and your location through our public observation platform. Don’t worry if you’re not entirely sure what you're seeing, we’ll do the dirty work and figure it out. Thanks in advance!