Bulletin d’avalanche

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Wed
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré last year. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Updated: Increased avalanche danger at middle elevations and the size of potential avalanches due to higher than forecast overnight snowfall.

If you head to the tops of some of the higher peaks, you probably find pockets of wind drifted snow. Be leery of these firm pillow-like slabs, especially in high consequence terrain. At lower elevations, the snowpack is thinning, creeks are open, and plenty of travel hazards exist.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–2

    Storms continue to trickle a few inches of snow here and a few inches of snow there. At the higher elevations, this recent snow might be dry enough for winds to blow it into slightly thicker and firmer slabs. These winds slabs shouldn’t be very common, but they’re the most likely hazard you’ll face. 

    Blowing snow, scoured slopes, and textured surfaces can help you decipher local wind patterns and anticipate potentially loaded slopes. Wind slabs could be most common at the base of cliffs, in the tops of chutes, and beneath sharp cornices. 

    Recent wind slabs have been hard to trigger. These may be the same way, but take a moment to consider the consequences before crossing one of these steep wind loaded slopes.

    (3/30/2025)

    When there's blowing snow, assume wind slabs are nearby until you can prove otherwise. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Snoqualmie received 3-7 inches of snow overnight, exceeding the forecast. Wind slabs may be more common and larger than previously expected. 

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION: Snow showers, moderate winds, mild temperatures, and maybe a sun break… sure sounds like spring. Seems like each day the Pass picks up another inch or so of snow. Showers should peak Monday evening through Tuesday night with the chance for another 3-4 inches of snow. No, that’s not very much, but it keeps the trees looking wintery and the snow surface soft. If a heavier shower takes aim at the Pass, you might see an additional inch or two of snow. 

While it’s been snowing some, even down near Pass level, you really don’t find much accumulation until you're above about 4500-5000ft. At lower elevations, the snowpack is starting to look a bit thin. Open creeks, exposed logs, and tree debris make it feel like late spring and present their own travel hazards. 

The big question mark in the avalanche forecast is the potential for lingering shed-style wet slides. These could be glides, wet slabs, cornices, or just blobs of snow falling off cliffs. The likelihood of these avalanches has been falling, especially with the strengthening March Atmospheric River (AR) crust. However, wet avalanches are tricky. The snowpack may remain very wet and weak around rocks and in other thinner locations. Don’t linger under rocky faces holding snow or beneath looming cornices on ridgelines. 

Lastly, the Pass should stay cloudy on Tuesday, but it’s spring and the sun likes to make unannounced appearances. If the sun comes out, expect any new snow to slide downhill. You may see natural wet loose slides. Fortunately, they should be small and mostly inconsequential.

Régions couvertes