Olympics

The snow surface can help you anticipate the avalanche hazard on Thursday. When you find wet, sticky, or punchy snow, the danger is increasing. Seek out drier, more frozen, or lower angled terrain.

The avalanche danger you encounter Thursday will depend largely on the weather. A balancing act of competing factors will seek to influence the snow. The greatest factor could be the overnight refreeze. If the surface freezes solid, warm temperatures and sunshine will take longer to destabilize the snow. A strong freeze could occur in places with mostly clear skies and colder temperatures. If you find a weaker, breakable crust in the morning, expect the snowpack to change more rapidly. During the day warm temperatures and filtered sunshine will try to weaken the surface causing it to become wet and unstable. These weather factors will struggle against increasing clouds and a cooling breeze. 

So, how can you know which one is winning? Pay attention to changes in the snow surface as you travel. When you begin to sink into the snow past your ankle, find a wet sticky surface, or see new rollerballs anticipate wet loose avalanches. These conditions should develop in the morning on more easterly aspects, before moving to other slopes as the sun traverses the sky. When you notice clues of unstable wet snow it’s time to move somewhere else. Seek out more frozen or drier snow by changing the aspect where you travel. While loose wet avalanches are often predictable, they can get you into trouble on long continuous slopes where they can grow larger and above terrain traps such as cliffs and creeks. 

Large cornices formed along many ridgelines during this winter’s stormy weather. Now many of them threaten to fall down. Choose routes that limit the amount of time you need to spend near or under these looming waves of snow. In addition to being dangerous on their own, falling cornices or loose slides could serve as triggers for slab avalanches on the slopes below. 

Spring Forecast Schedule:  NWAC will issue a danger rating every day for the Olympics beginning Friday, April 2nd  - Sunday, April 18th. 

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.