Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Another wet and windy day in the Pass brings increasing avalanche danger. Fresh light snowfall will quickly become denser as snow levels rise and rain eventually creeps in.  Sticking to simple, lower-angle terrain will greatly reduce your risk of triggering an avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Storm slab avalanche activity will be on the rise Thursday, as rain falls on new snow. This problem will be confined to areas in the Pass that have preexisting snow coverage, so mid and upper elevations. You could trigger an avalanche in any aspect with significant new snow accumulation, or pockets of wind drifted snow. Keep in mind, current snow coverage is extremely thin, and getting caught in an avalanche will surely slam you into rocks, trees, and other natural hazards. As temperatures warm, dense snow will begin to accumulate on lighter snow before transitioning to rain. This transition can increase slab avalanche activity as the snow turns “upside down” with heavy layers over lighter layers.

    Keep your eye on the slopes around you and the surface beneath you. If you see signs of natural avalanches, or begin travelling through unusually deep snow drifts, low angle terrain may be a safer option.

    (12/26/2024)

    A storm slab triggered by explosives during morning mitigation efforts at the Summit at Snoqualmie on 12/26/2024.

    Photo: Summit at Snoqualmie Pro Patrol

  • Loose Wet

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

    Expect increased wet avalanche activity through Thursday. As snow turns to rain, it won't take long for surface snow to become damp and clumpy. Sticky snow, roller balls, and small wet loose avalanches are early indicators of less stable conditions. As the day progresses, watch for these signs closely— even a small wet loose avalanche can knock you off your feet and carry you into consequential terrain or obstacles. 

    There is also a chance of freezing rain somewhere in the snow-to-rain transition. If this occurs, wet avalanche activity could be reduced.

    (3/7/2025)

    A small wet snow avalanche previously triggered by someone skinning across the slope.

    Photo: Payton Schiff

Avalanche Discussion

Wednesday’s field observations at Snoqualmie Pass showed a few inches of snow at low elevations, with likely significantly more at mid and upper elevations. Unfortunately, all weather stations in the Pass are currently without power, so there is uncertainty about the true snow accumulations higher up. Wednesday morning, Alpental recorded a 112 MPH wind gust before losing power—an incredible value for that station. It’s safe to assume it was very windy across upper elevations, and any new snow has likely been redistributed downwind. 

Thursday will bring significant snow accumulations to all elevation bands, followed by widespread rain. Though any snow is helpful, rain may reduce a substantial portion of the fresh snow cover. As of now, Low elevations continue to present no avalanche hazard, thus no rating is applied. Let’s hope the snow keeps coming and backcountry access can improve.

The weather over the past few weeks has been extraordinary, with torrential rains, extreme winds, flooding, and landslides. Many communities are dealing with damage to homes, infrastructure, and businesses, stretching resources thin. These events have limited access to the mountains for all of us. State and local resources are working diligently to reduce the worst of these impacts. We can help by being respectful of local communities, obeying road closures, and heeding ski area uphill travel policies.

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