Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A cooling trend is on the horizon, bringing snow back to the mountains of Snoqualmie Pass. You may need to manage shallow wind slabs that develop throughout the day. You'll most certainly need to contend with open creeks, bare ground, and other travel hazards due to the recent warm and wet weather. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    There may be just enough new snow and wind to form shallow wind slabs on Wednesday. They could build throughout the day on leeward slopes near ridgelines, by rocky features such as the base of cliffs, or on the sides of confined gullies/chutes. You can look for actively blowing snow, large drifts, or textured surfaces to help identify wind-loaded features to avoid.

    (2/10/2026)

    Example: Actively blowing snow, wind texture, and a pillow-like drift on this rocky ridgeline are all signs that wind slabs may have formed.

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday was hammering rain at Snoqualmie Pass with 5 hours straight of precipitation rates over 0.2" per hour. The adjacent hours weren't much less, as we far exceeded our forecasted water numbers and again soaked our mountains at all elevations. The winds were even ripping during this event, with gusts in the 70s recorded at the top of Alpental for several consecutive hours.

So where does that leave us? We lack on-the-ground observations from the day, which isn't surprising due to the nasty weather. But the snowpack has seen so much water lately that it should have been well-suited to handle this additional rainy day, even if it was a big one. With nearly a foot-thick crust identified on the surface on Monday, the real question is how much of it broke down? Likely not all of it at middle and upper elevations, so there will be a warm and wet surface for new snow to bond to, with a firm crust beneath it to act as a good bed surface for any triggered avalanche to run on. 

We have no concerns below this stout interface, but you could see some lingering wet avalanche activity above it. Rollerballs, pinwheels, or push-a-lanches aren't out of the question this time of the season whenever there's new snow. After all that rain, a blob of snow could fall from a rocky ledge in isolated locations where the crust isn't as much of a factor.

As has been the case much of the season, you may need to contend with travel hazards if you're heading for the hills. Open creeks, frozen avalanche debris, down trees, and bare ground are commonplace right now, particularly at lower elevations or on southerly aspects.

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