Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

The further we get from last week’s storms, the more the avalanche danger becomes localized to specific features. You could see a few small wet avalanches on steep sunny slopes as rocks/and trees shed their snow. In higher, shaded terrain, you may find a few wind-loaded pockets near exposed ridges and rocky slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Cold temperatures, a cool breeze, and a surface crust will all try to delay any wet avalanche concerns on Thursday. So, you probably won’t be dealing with this one until the sunshine helps temperatures warm. If you start to peel off layers, see snow shedding from rocks/trees, or find new rollerballs, then things are heating up. We sticky snow could develop on steep southerly slopes. Watch out for small natural avalanches, as some of these snowballs entrain more snow as they move downhill. In general, these wet loose slides should stay small, but if you get caught by one, it could carry you into a creek or over a cliff.

    (2/7/2024)

    Example: Wet avalanches occurring on steep rocky slopes. 

    Photo: Jonathan Spitzer

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Several different wind events over the past few days left a patchwork of generally small wind-loaded pockets across the middle and upper elevation terrain. These slabs may not be everywhere, but you could encounter them on a variety of aspects along ridgelines, near the base of cliffs, on convex rollovers, and in the tops of chutes. Some may be new, and some may be old. Textured surfaces, cornices, and drifts can all point toward potential wind slabs. 

    Spotting these pillow-like slabs can be easy; figuring out if they will fail is hard. Small slopes can give you some idea of how the snow will react, but wind slabs are variable by their nature. Steer around firmer wind-loaded areas, especially above cliffs, rocks, and other high-consequence terrain.

    (1/14/2024)

    Example: Textured surfaces and drifts along an exposed ridgeline. 

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

We’re expecting another spring-like day on Thursday with sunshine and warmer temperatures. A few low clouds could linger in the morning but should burn off as the day progresses. As a result, you probably won’t have a loose wet issue to start the day and could be dealing with slightly less avalanche concerns. 

At lower elevations, wet loose slides are still possible, but the snowpack down low has seen several periods of warmer weather and mostly shed its snow. You may still trigger a small loose wet in rocky, confined terrain. 

Observations show the recent storm snow is generally right-side-up and well-settled. Above about 4500ft, the new snow is substantially deeper. Below all the powder, a few older layers remain on our radar. The Early February Curst and several layers just above it (2/14, 2/19) produced avalanches in nearby forecast zones. One such potential slide from Stevens Pass on Tuesday emphasizes how these persistent slabs continue to haunt our snowpack. We don’t think these layers are a major concern at the Pass. However, a big trigger like a failing cornice or another avalanche could break down deeper into the snowpack. Keep this in mind if you use the nice weather to head into large or more remote alpine terrain.

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