Snoqualmie Pass

New snow on Thursday shouldn’t be enough to significantly increase avalanche hazard at Snoqualmie Pass. All the same, keep an eye out for larger piles of snow that could knock you off your feet if they were to slide downhill. Travel conditions should continue to be hazardous but may improve marginally with the new snow.

The pass isn’t forecasted to get significant snow totals or gusty winds during a short-lived weather event Wednesday night and Thursday. Any new snow input will result in increased avalanche hazard compared to previous days, but not enough for us to move up the danger scale. That said, weather predictions have been known to bust from time to time, so take a look at conditions for yourself as you explore the mountains. If you find that 6 inches or more of snow have fallen, or that the wind is gusting and blowing new snow around, you could find increased avalanche hazard in the form of Wind Slabs or Dry Loose avalanches.

The more likely scenario is that a few inches of snow fall on top of what we consider a relatively strong snowpack, allowing generally safe avalanche conditions to persist. Recent observations have highlighted variable snow surfaces for this new snow to fall on, including dry snow, breakable crust, icy slopes, and frozen avalanche debris. We have highlighted difficult and variable travel conditions the past few days and a few inches of low density snow may mask some of these difficult conditions. Continue to travel with caution and be prepared for the new snow to be poorly bonded to the old surface, particularly on firm icy slopes. Falling in these areas could potentially lead to a long and dangerous slide. 

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.