Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

After a solid overnight freeze, temperatures should rise quickly and create potential for small wet loose avalanches on slopes in the sun. You'll find deeper snow the higher you go, so these slides could grow larger there. Time your day to move off of steep slopes by the time they become wet and saturated, and consider what is above you in the afternoon.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    In the morning, the snow surface will have a thin crust and avalanche danger will be lower. The likelihood of wet avalanches will increase with direct sun and warming temperatures in the afternoon. Most avalanches would be small, but they could run naturally off steep rocks and cliffs, so be aware of the terrain above you. You could also trigger these slow-moving but heavy avalanches in steep terrain. If you begin to sink deeply into wet, sloppy snow or see active rollerballs, consider moving to lower-angle slopes or sticking to more shaded aspects. 

    Example wet loose avalanche activity from steep cliffs warming in the sun. 

    Photo: Jonathan Spitzer

Avalanche Discussion

The pass picked up an inch or two of new snow at upper elevations Thursday morning. Skies are expected to become mostly clear overnight and by Friday we should be looking at a beautiful sunny day. As can often be the case during this type of situation, snow surfaces should 'dry out' and you might find some nice riding on shaded slopes on Friday. Many surfaces hold a refrozen crust, and these could also become nice riding once they soften up a little, though they might become too soft and sloppy after a couple hours of direct sun. If slopes become unsupportable on foot, it'll be time to change aspects.

A forecaster was out in the Alpental Valley on Wednesday, and found a moist but mostly supportable snowpack with a few inches of new snow. The upper snowpack had various crusts and weaker snow layers. None of these layers seemed particularly problematic, and the bond with the Early February Crust (EFC) down 3ft had improved. The once faceted, weak snow above this crust had rounded and gained strength. Still, with the amount of human triggered avalanches on or just above this layer over the past week, any wind loaded terrain with dry snow should be approached with some level of caution. Expect firm and icy surfaces in the morning, with sometimes breakable crusts, frozen tree bombs, holes, and open creeks in many areas.

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