Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

It remains possible to trigger a wet snow avalanche where the sun is shining or you are sinking down into mushy snow. Keep an eye out for fresh rollerballs and avalanches that indicate instability. Lower elevations have become hazardous due to snowmelt, so make your way more slowly to avoid falling into a hole or over rocks.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    There has been a lot of wet snow activity in the last 48 hours, and a lot of avalanches that could run, did. With overnight rain Thursday night into Friday, peak instability for anything left to go will likely be overnight, but we won't be quite out of the weeds yet once the sun comes out. Anticipate wet and mushy surface conditions at the start of the day and for the chance of encountering a wet loose avalanche to be present. The snow will be further impacted by sunny weather, and there may be some fresh, dry snow at upper elevations that will be easily influenced. With plenty of lingering moisture in the snowpack, even a small avalanche could gouge deeper and run larger. We don't expect large avalanches to start at lower elevations, but something could start from above and run down to this elevation band.

    Put some consideration towards lower-likelihood but higher-consequence wet snow avalanche problems. Wet slabs in new or old snow, glide avalanches, cornice failures, and large chunks of snow peeling off rock faces (“blob-a-lanches”) remain plausible. You’re unlikely to trigger something, but if one goes, it could be large and destructive. You can reduce your risk by minimizing your exposure. Don't linger under cornices that appear to be sagging, keep moving as you travel on or below avalanche paths, and don't enter onto a slope with a glide crack present.

    (4/10/2025)

    This pair of large (D2) wet loose avalanches failed mid-day and covered a fresh skin track on Thursday. Larger wet slides like these originated from rocky slopes. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Between 6–19" of snow fell earlier in the week at middle and upper elevations. On Wednesday and Thursday, snow professionals reported widespread wet loose activity as well as shed style movement (tree bombs, cornice falls, snow sliding off cliffs). Some avalanches ran from higher up, down to lower elevations and were big enough to bury and kill someone.

The snowpack is going through a drawn-out and messy transition toward Spring. There’s free water moving about, lingering wet layers and interfaces, and then spots that remain dry and wintry. In other words, the snowpack is neither fully frozen nor fully transformed into a stable, well-drained spring snowpack. This creates some uncertainty, which can be difficult to manage. Build wider margins of safety into your tour plan for the day, and trust that a more stable snowpack is on its way. 

If you find dry snow in high alpine terrain on Friday, keep your eyes peeled for newly drifted snow below ridgelines on lee slopes. Shooting cracks from your equipment, audible collapsing, and recent slab avalanches are indications that you should steer around steep, wind loaded terrain.

Down low, travel has become more hazardous. The snowpack is thin and riddled with rocks, creeks, and branches. There are also open holes that might not be visible from afar. Take care to make your entry and exit into the backcountry slower and more deliberate.

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