Bulletin d’avalanche

Snoqualmie Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Fri
Alpin
3 · Marqué
Limite forestière
3 · Marqué
Sous la limite
3 · Marqué
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 8 months ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Continued stormy weather will maintain dangerous avalanche conditions at Snoqualmie Pass. Slabs will be larger and more sensitive as you ascend in elevation or in wind-loaded terrain. If you see natural avalanches occur, it may be worth avoiding all avalanche terrain.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Storm Slabs

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

    The snow is going to keep piling up on Thursday, maintaining the potential for storm-related avalanches. We have now had several rounds of precipitation, resulting in multiple interstorm layers that could fail as true storm slabs. Using uptrack tests and small test slopes may not give you the whole story since you'll need to look for issues as deep as the 1/3 interface. The best way to do this is to dig by hand or with a shovel and look for points of failure. 

    As winds increase and transport the low-density snow onto leeward slopes, slabs could become larger and more sensitive. You may even see natural avalanches occur during periods of high winds or intense precipitation. Whether natural or human-triggered, avalanches will be more likely on slopes over 35 degrees, and your best mitigation tool is avoidance.  

    (1/7/2026)

    A large (D2) natural avalanche involving most of the recent storm snow (1-2ft) in the neighboring Stevens Pass zone. Similar slides could occur at Snoqualmie as we increase depth over the 1/3 and the winds crank on Thursday. 

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

This is the storm that winter enthusiasts have been waiting for. Snowfall measured in feet is currently blanketing our mountain landscape, increasing the potential for avalanches and helping cover up our early-season hazards. 

On Wednesday, several groups in the Alpental Valley reported deep snow and minimal avalanche activity. That story may change on Thursday as winds rip through the zone and another foot of snow falls. Remember that the snowpack doesn't like rapid change, so avalanches will be easier to trigger or could fail naturally when the snow is really coming down or the winds are cranking.

As of Wednesday evening, roughly 2 feet of snow exists over the 1/3 melt-freeze crust. This interface varies in thickness and supportability throughout the zone. At lower elevations, it is a freezing rain crust; higher up, it is wetter and punchier. This is the area of the snowpack to focus your stability assessments on. Whether it's storm slab, wind slab, or even loose, we expect all avalanche activity to occur in this week's storm snow. Recent observations indicate there is a layer a few inches above the 1/3 and another interstorm layer from Tuesday that may be capable of failing. Others may exist by Thursday.

The new snow is certainly helping increase coverage and thus travel throughout the mountains. But those obstacles that were easily visible a few days ago are now buried just under the surface. Holes and creeks may be more hidden than in previous days, with only light and fluffy snow above them. In fact, the new snow could be considered a hazard. Don't get pushed over into a place you can't get out of easily. Keep your friends in sight and be prepared to lend a helping hand.

Régions couvertes