Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

You're most likely to trigger an avalanche on sun exposed slopes as temperatures continue to warm through the day. If it starts to feel hot and sunny and the snow turns mushy or wet, consider moving to shadier aspects, or lower angle slopes. Isolated, larger wet avalanches present a low likelihood-high consequence scenario for any slopes that picked up water on Monday.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    The sun and warming will be stronger on Tuesday, along with an increased risk of triggering wet loose avalanches. Early in the morning, wet avalanche activity will likely be minimal. However, as the day warms and temperatures climb, wet avalanches will be an increasing hazard. A temperature inversion at low elevations may also allow for quicker warming at middle and upper elevations as compared to lower.

    Focus your attention on slopes receiving direct sunlight, as these areas will show signs of instability first. Deep boot penetration, sticky or saturated snow surfaces, and surface snow easily sliding away underfoot are all indicators of destabilizing snow. Once these signs appear, move to shadier aspects or lower-angle terrain altogether.

    Steep rocky terrain still pose a risk of releasing snow naturally. Keep an eye on the terrain overhead. Best to not hang out underneath cliffs and rocks with snow on them.

    (1/12/2026)

    A long-running wet loose avalanche, triggered by snow shedding off the rocks.

    Photo: Trevor Kostanich

Avalanche Discussion

Temperatures reached impressive highs on Tuesday, with 5,000-foot temperatures climbing into the 50s at Snoqualmie Pass. Weather stations continue to report losses in snow depth across all elevation bands. A slight temperature inversion allowed low elevations to remain marginally cooler, though not by much. A couple of additional large glide avalanches were reported in the Alpental Valley, likely having occurred Monday night. Minimal new wet avalanche activity was reported on Tuesday.

Snoqualmie Pass received well over an inch of rain on January 11/12, with freezing levels well above the upper elevations. Multiple large glide avalanches were reported along with prevalent wet loose avalanche activity. Now that 24 hours have passed, there remains some uncertainty regarding how the snowpack continues to respond. While we appear to be transitioning into a more predictable warming cycle, with sunny slopes presenting the primary hazard, there is still the potential for any slope that received rain to produce a larger avalanche than expected. Large glide, or wet slab avalanches are not out of the question. Extra attention should be given to larger slopes with deep, heavy, wet snow. 

Unfortunately, all the rain and warming continues to lower snow depth in the Pass. Continued snow loss is bringing shallow obstacles back to the surface, creating more difficult travel conditions. Creek crossings are widening exposed, logs are re-emerging, and snow bridges etch closer to failure. As warming continues, take extra time when traveling through shallow terrain and watch for exposed earthly features and hidden obstacles.

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