Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

During Monday’s break between storms, keep an eye out for signs of wind drifted snow. Sharp cornices, textured surfaces, and wind lips all point toward potentially dangerous slopes. Be leery of smooth pillow-like snow on the sheltered side of open terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Sunday night's snow and wind could help any recently formed wind slabs become thicker. As precipitation and wind speeds taper Monday morning, you need to look for visual clues to anticipate where wind slabs might have developed. You may find slabs not only along ridges and directly below cornices, but also in the tops of chutes, near the base of cliffs, and on exposed midslope features. 

    If the slabs are softer, use small steep slopes to see how they react to your weight. If they crack or fail, steer around nearby wind loaded terrain. If you bump into firm or hollow feeling slabs, it will be much harder to figure out how these avalanches might react. The only thing you can really do is avoid them. 

    With the recent mild weather, the new snow seems to be gaining strength quite quickly. Even if you see signs or wind transported snow, the wind slabs might not react. In these cases, avalanches could be more likely on unsupported and convex slopes, or at higher elevations where it’s stayed a bit colder.

    (1/3/2026)

    Visual clues of recent wind loading and 'fat' pillow-like slabs.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

The storm pattern the past several days has been tricky. Overall, we’re still on a cooling trend, but ‘cooling’ certainly is a relative term. Snow levels should fall below the Pass elevation Sunday night. This could help reduce the persistent wet loose problem we just can’t seem to shake. However, at lower elevations, if you find wet sticky snow, you might still push a small slide in very steep terrain. The Pass should stay cloudy on Monday, but if the sun makes a meaningful appearance, the wet loose issue could develop on any steep sunny slope. Rollerballs and snow shedding from trees are a good indicator that the wet loose problem is once again rearing its ugly head. 

We’re concerned with the snow above the New Years Day ice/melt freeze crust. Near pass level, a burly layer of hard ice may only be covered by a few inches of snow. However, higher in the terrain, it could be a foot or more deep. Below this most recent crust, the snowpack seems generally strong and well settled. 

On Sunday, travelers reported wet snow to around 4500ft. Wet loose slides seemed to be the bigger issue at lower elevations. Interestingly, a glide avalanche released naturally sometime Saturday night at Alpental. These avalanches are often a head scratcher.  However, it’s a good reminder not to have a picnic below steep rocky slopes.

We don’t want to say it, but early season hazards still exist. Creeks, holes, bushes, and down trees continue to make travel more…. engaging…convoluted…headsup, particularly at lower elevations.

Regions covered