Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

If your plans call for traveling up to higher elevations around the Pass, stay on the lookout for slopes where the wind may have blown the snow into slightly firmer and thicker drifts. You could trigger an avalanche in these wind-loaded pockets. Early season conditions still exist, and travel remains tricky due to numerous exposed obstacles.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Most of the recent snow fell with cooling temperatures and is likely right-side-up. So, if you’re going to encounter a slab avalanche, it will probably occur on a slope where the wind drifted the snow into a slightly firmer layer. Since a few inches of fresh snow may hide common wind-textured surfaces, you’ll need to pay close attention to how the snow looks and feels. Sharp cornices and the snow blow from trees can indicate possibly wind-loaded terrain. You may also find wind-drifted slopes “feel” firmer underneath you. Steer around steep wind-loaded features such as ridgelines, exposed gullies, and the base of cliffs to avoid this problem.

    Away from wind-affected features, you’ll likely find plenty of soft powder. In the nearby Steven Pass and West South zones, travelers triggered loose dry avalanches Monday in the most recent storm snow. While these sluffs should remain small, even a tiny avalanche can hurt you, especially with so many exposed rocks and trees to hit during a ride.

    (11/28/2022) Very small wind slab that was observed on a W aspect at 4500' in the Edelweiss Bowl. Photo: Kaf Adventures

Avalanche Discussion

We continue to incrementally grow the snowpack around Snoqualmie Pass. Sunday night and Monday, an additional 4-6 in (10-15cm) of light fluffy snow fell with cooling temperatures. On Tuesday, a break in the weather should allow for the avalanche danger to remain largely unchanged. Instead, you’ll face with VERY cold temperatures. Make sure to bring plenty of clothes to stay warm while you travel and to deal with any unforeseen issues or emergencies. 

At the moment you can divide the snowpack at the Pass into lower elevations and mid/upper elevations. 

Down low, a generally thin snowpack still exists with plenty of obstacles to navigate. Indeed, the greatest hazard you could face may be early season travel. Watch for open creeks, holes near rocks, and thinly covered brush. Some of these objects may hide under a few inches of inviting powder. Several significant rain events in November formed a strong and well-consolidated snowpack below treeline. This has limited any avalanche concerns at these elevations. 

If you make it through the gauntlet of obstacles below treeline, you’ll find a much deeper snowpack at mid and upper elevations. At present, we still don’t have much information about snow conditions near and above treeline. Generally, weather station data and field observations suggest about 1-1.5 ft (30-45cm) of snow sits above a prominent rain crust from 11/22. While we don't expect significant weak layers in the upper snowpack, it could be worth easing into the terrain by traveling on smaller and lower consequence slopes first to gather information. 

Regions covered