Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Keep wind slab avalanches on your radar tomorrow, even if the chance of triggering one is low. Look for signs of wind-affected snow such as surface texture and chalky, pillow-shaped drifts. If you are considering a steep, wind-loaded slope in the upper elevations, take a moment to weigh the consequences of even a small slide. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5

    An unstable wind slab could still lurk near upper-elevation ridgelines and in complex terrain like gullies, couloirs, below cliff bands, and steep, unsupported slopes. These spots also carry heightened consequences if a slide occurs. 

    If visibility is good, your eyes are one of the best tools for spotting wind slabs. As time passes since Sunday’s storm, these slabs are becoming harder to trigger—but also harder to assess. Tip the odds in your favor by either steering clear of steep wind-loaded slopes altogether or choosing terrain with clean runouts free of terrain traps, trees, and cliffs.

    (3/2/2024)

    An example of a wind slab avalanche below a cliff band. If there is still reactive snow to be found, we expect it in more complex features such as these. Even a relatively small avalanche in a location like this could have large consequences.

    Photo: Willie Webster

Avalanche Discussion

After weeks of active weather, things are drying out, and a warm-up is on the horizon for the weekend. Multiple observations over several days continue to support a generally stable snowpack with depths of up to 5 feet at the upper elevations, though it is still quite shallow down low. Thursday and Friday bring a window of cool, calm conditions—a great chance to get out and enjoy the mountains before temperatures rise.

As you head out on Thursday, keep a few questions in mind that could impact your day. Are there rocks lurking just below the snow surface? Can you safely access terrain through lower and mid-elevations, where brush, stumps, and open creeks may pose hazards? Is that pocket of wind slab truly stable? And if the sun comes out in force, could you encounter rollerballs or snow shedding off cliffs?

The weather looks promising, so take advantage of the opportunity to explore the mountains. Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Uphill Travel 

Uphill travel at a closed ski resort: 1. Follow the ski area’s uphill travel policy. 2. Avalanche mitigation may not have occurred. You should approach the terrain as if it were any other backcountry slope. 3. Numerous other hazards may exist, including electrical lines, snowmaking, heavy machinery, and other motorized traffic. 4. Ski patrol and other ski area staff are not there to respond to emergencies. Travelers should be self-sufficient.

Regions covered