Avalanche forecast

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

The storm may be over but the warm weather should continue at Snoqualmie Pass. This will help maintain weak snow and the potential for avalanches on slopes over 35 degrees. Make travel plans with plenty of options to avoid overhead hazards or committing slopes at upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    There probably isn't much dry snow out there, but we did receive a large amount before it got warm and wet on Sunday. You can probably still find it below the moist surface and possibly above ~5500 feet. Because of this, it is worth considering the possibility of slab avalanches for another day as the snowpack adjusts to the rapid change it just underwent.  The snow surface doesn't have to be dry to produce a slab avalanche, but our hunch is that they'll be more likely as you ascend to elevations that got less damp. Be extra leery on steep, unsupported slopes or convex features where triggering a slab is more likely. They could be stubborn, but if they get moving they will likely grow large and dangerous as they descend.

    (1/5/2025)

    A small slab that failed naturally at the base of rocks on Kendall Peak. It may have been triggered by snow shedding from above.

    Photo: Cameron Derwin

  • Loose Wet

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

    The snow surface is generally wet and weak. Monday is expected to be mostly sunny and freezing levels should be on the rise. Thus, wet avalanches will be possible anywhere you are sinking into wet and sticky snow deeper than your ankle. You could see a variety of issues - wet loose, tree bombs, large chunks of snow falling off rocky ledges, or even cornice collapses. Any of these could then entrain snow and grow large as they descend. They could even trigger lingering slabs. Make travel plans that avoid overhead hazards or terrain traps such as gullies and creeks where even a small wet avalanche could become more consequential. 

    (1/5/2025)

    Wet avalanche debris spotted from the Lake Annette Trail. Be leery of what's above you when making travel plans, even down in the forest.

    Photo: Evan Wendel

Avalanche Discussion

We're wrapping up our holiday period on a warm and wet note. Observations from Sunday indicate that the snow surface has gotten wet up to at least 5500 feet. With a poor overnight refreeze expected and a relatively warm and sunny day forecast on Monday, don't expect that narrative to change much. The outlier could be at lower elevations where cool east flow could start to help stabilize the snow from the top down as it freezes. 

It was an active Saturday night and Sunday morning at The Pass. The Summit at Snoqualmie Pro Patrol reported sensitive slabs 8-16" deep during their morning mitigation work. Natural avalanche debris from this storm was reported by backcountry travelers in the Alpental Valley, Commonwealth Drainage, and along the Lake Annette Trail. Below the moist snow surface, the snowpack is cold and layered. We have doubled our seasonal snowpack depth in the past 2 weeks and this storm was a big change to top it off. We don't anticipate the same level of avalanche activity on Monday, but that doesn't mean everything is good to go.  Our hunch is that we're still in store for a few weird avalanches as this warm week commences. Give the snowpack the time it needs to heal and adjust.

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