Snoqualmie Pass
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Sam Clairmont
Issued: Monday, April 6, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineWith temperatures on the cool down, you're unlikely to trigger an avalanche on Tuesday. There's still a small chance of snow shedding off cliffs and rocks, so limit your time traveling under suspect terrain. Firm and generally beat-up snow surfaces could make for difficult travel.
Avalanche Danger
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
6500-5500ft1 - Low
5500-4000ft1 - Low
4000-2500ft1 - Low
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
6500-5500ft1 - Low
5500-4000ft1 - Low
4000-2500ft1 - Low
Avalanche Danger ScaleLearn moreGeneral InfoGeneral Information1 - LowLow2 - ModModerate3 - ConsConsiderable4 - HighHigh5 - ExtrExtreme
1 - Low |  2 - Moderate |  3 - Considerable |  4 - High |  5 - Extreme | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
| Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
| Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
Avalanche Problems (1)
Problem #1: Glide Avalanches
Problem Type
Glide Avalanches
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(3/8/2026)
A pair of older glide avalanches near the Bryant Peak Couloir. Snow clinging to rocky slopes such as this could still be a concern.
Photo: Dallas Glass
Wet avalanche activity is unlikely on Tuesday, but there's still a small chance of snow sliding off the cliffs and rocky terrain. Glide avalanches are hard to time and can occur at any point during the day, even during cooling temperatures. Any small release has the potential to gouge out more snow with it and quickly turn large. This isn't a problem you can tiptoe around; the key is to limit your overall exposure to overhead terrain. Limit your time hanging out directly below cliffs or rocky terrain.
Many of the cornices are starting to look weak around the Pass, and it's not out of the question that some of these break. Keep a healthy distance as you travel above or around them. Even a small cornice collapse could hurt you or knock you off your feet.
Forecast Discussion
Warm overnight and daytime temperatures restricted any significant refreeze on Monday. Skies were mostly clear, with increasing wind, and temperatures climbing into the upper 50s. Avalanche observations were minimal on Monday, except for a recent, small, wet loose slide off north-facing Bryant Peak.
There will be two main changes to the weather on Tuesday: wind and temperature. Overnight, freezing levels are expected to drop, reaching down to the mid elevations by Tuesday morning. An increasing wind will accompany the cool off, turning moderate to strong at ridgeline. Together, these factors will firm up the snowpack on Tuesday. This is great for minimizing wet avalanche activity, but general over-snow travel could turn icy and treacherous. Plan for firm and difficult travel, and bring the proper equipment.
Snoqualmie Pass hasn't experienced freezing temperatures since April 3rd, and the snowpack is showing it. An NWAC forecaster in the Alpental Valley found saturated, moist to wet snow throughout the upper snowpack, reaching down to the 3/25 crust. Snow coverage continues to thin across the Pass, with large patches of dirt and rock increasingly exposed at low elevations. Buried obstacles are gradually resurfacing, along with the widening creek crossings. Plan a little extra time for low-elevation navigating.
This information is provided by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and describes general backcountry avalanche hazard and conditions.
It does not apply to ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation is conducted.