Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

There’s a lot of fresh snow at the Pass. Conditions could change significantly as you gain elevation and as the sun comes out. Choose terrain that lets you easily identify and avoid steep slopes and adapt to the dynamic weather.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    While you may trigger an avalanche within the storm snow on very steep slopes, the real danger lies in places where the wind created thicker and firmer slabs. You may be balancing two versions of this same problem. Fortunately, you can avoid both by just giving potentially wind loaded slopes a wide berth. 

    Strong winds on Thursday could build fresh slabs along ridges, in the tops of chutes, and near exposed mid slope features. Blowing snow can help you see exactly where these wind loaded pockets are forming. With winds out of the NW, you may find new slabs in some strange places. 

    Older slabs likely formed during the meat of the storm Tuesday night. These could be harder to trigger, but may fail deeper into the recent storm snow. Sharp cornices and drifts should point towards where these older wind loaded areas lie.

    (2/20/2026)

    Example: Subtle signs of wind loading along the more exposed ridges. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

  • Loose Wet

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

    This problem is all about the sky. There could be enough sunshine on Thursday to make this a big issue. Your first clue will be snow falling out of trees and off rocks. Some of these snow bombs could form rollerballs. If it stays sunny and warm, natural wet loose avalanches will likely follow. However, if conditions remain cloudy most of the day, you may not see much of an issue at all. 

    If this problem starts to come alive, plan ahead. Look for routes that help you avoid traveling on or under steep sunny slopes. While most of these slides should stay fairly small, large, rocky, alpine faces could produce big wet avalanches.

    (2/10/2026)

    Example: A natural wet loose avalanche that originated near a snowy cliff. Although not large, these slides are dense. You don't want one to push you into a terrain trap. 

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

The Pass did well during this storm. On Wednesday, avalanche professionals in the Alpental Valley found 2 feet of fresh snow over the 4/14 crust above 4500ft. Not bad! They noted the new snow was mostly right-side-up. 

Several items make us less confident than normal about this forecast. The dynamic spring weather and lack of information leads to a higher level of uncertainty. With conditions like this, take time to poke and prod the new snow before committing to bigger slopes. You’ll want to check all the storm snow, including how it’s bonded to the underlying obvious crust. If it failed in blocks or slides easily, dial it back, and give the new snow time to heal. Below the 4/14 crust, the upper snowpack is strong and stable. Until these stout crusts weaken, we don’t expect any issues deeper in the snowpack. 

The new snow certainly helps travel conditions. Unfortunately, it may also hide some of the nasty obstacles we’ve been dodging. Don’t let the powder blind you. Open creeks, holes, bare ground, and rocks may lurk just below the surface.

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