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

Wednesday’s avalanche danger is all about sunshine and paying attention to the slopes above you. Sun and warm temperatures could cause blobs of snow to shed from rocky faces and steep road cuts. Look for routes that minimize the time you spend under any warming southerly slope. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2

    This isn’t your normal wet loose problem. Sure, maybe you could push a tiny wet slide in steep terrain if the surface crust finally melts. Instead, we’re more worried about natural shed-o-lanchces (blocks of snow falling off rocky slopes). To deal with this issue you need to manage your overhead hazard. Snow covered rocks above you may warm much faster than where you’re standing.

    Think about what’s hanging over your head. Is there steep rocky terrain up there that could shed some snow? If yes, don’t dilly-dally. Move through that area quickly. Or, better yet, look for a route that limits your exposure to these hanging blocks of snow. 

    This issue isn’t a slam dunk. Cooling winds and some clouds will battle warm temperatures and sunshine. If the wind and clouds win, you'll likely find generally safe avalanche conditions.

    (1/7/2025)

    These natural avalanches released from steep rocky faces. Sunshine and warm temperatures could cause some of those lingering blocks of snow to fall down with no warning. Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Mid-winter high pressure ridges are tricky. Start your day with the mindset that wet snow will develop on steep southerly terrain. Then if the problem doesn’t materialize, you can step it out, rather than assuming it's safe and being surprised by a natural slide. 

A small disturbance could leave a dusting of snow at the Pass, but by Wednesday morning, the trend will be for warming and clearing. This time we won’t have the cool easterly flow and pass level fog to keep the lower elevations chilly. Freezing levels should be lower, but overall temperatures will be warmer with more westerly winds. A breakable crust caps the snowpack from down low to at least 5500ft. However, the snowpack is anything but “locked-up.” Despite the protective crust, plenty of soft snow still hangs on rocky faces and road cuts around the zone. 

Unfortunately, the biggest hazard you face on Wednesday may be the travel conditions. It’s not just the breakable crust that’s the issue. Rock-hard tree bombs, frozen piles of avalanche debris, downed branches, and open creeks make travel… character building. Give yourself time to navigate and manage these obstacles. 

On Tuesday, an NWAC avalanche forecaster at the Pass continued to document the avalanche cycle from the past few days. Several rounds of natural slides occurred through the course of the storm. While most of these avalanches failed on Sunday, some look rather fresh. Most slides were small, but several were very wide and large (D2.5).

Regions covered