Lawinenlagebericht

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

Treat all open slopes, especially on shady aspects at mid and upper elevations, as guility until proven otherwise with a buried weak layer down ~2' in the upper snowpack.  No recent avalanches have been reported on this layer based on limited information, but a similar snowpack structure has led to large and scary avalanches in parts of the Cascades.  If you experience collasphing, whumpfing, or see other signs of instability,  retreat to simpler terrain. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    A well-identified weak layer (buried surface hoar) is down about 2' at mid-elevations and found just above a prominent crust (2/13) in the upper snowpack. This layer was found on shady aspects in the Hurricane Ridge area including near ridgelines and also in snow pits near Mt Ellinor.  A sensitive snowpack with collasping and whumpfing was observed in the Hurricane Ridge area earlier in the week, but not on Thursday.  

    We have limited information about a known weak layer in the upper snowpack, at depths that a human traveller can affect and deep enough to potentially lead to a large and dangerous avalanche.  This layer may have become less likely to trigger over the week based on limited information from area snowpack tests.  

    Treat all open steep slopes as suspect until proven otherwise, especially shady aspects where surface hoar was more likely to have survived and buried intact. If you experience any collapsing or whumpfing, remotely trigger avalanches, or see other signs of instability, retreat to simple, lower-angle terrain.  

    Persistent slabs are notorious for surprising backcountry travelers; they break more widely across the slope and can be triggered from lower-angle terrain than run-of-the-mill storm slab avalanches.  Dig and look for the buried surface hoar to help rule out slopes, and consider using snowpack test to gain more information, but do not use inconclusive results to deem a slope "safe" or not. 

    (2/26/2026)

    A propogation saw test (PST) result of 79/100 End on a N aspect near Steeple Rock.  This snowpack test gauges the likelihood of a fracture to propogate on a known weak layer (buried surface hoar). Numbers below 50 and indidcate a higher likelihood of fracture propagtion. 

    Snowpack tests like this can be helpful for identifying which slopes to avoid, but are only one piece of information from one location.  They should not be used to deem a slope "safe". 

    Photo: Sam Luthy - NPS

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    On the north and eastern part of the range, the sun should poke in and out of the clouds again, along with slightly warmer temperatures.  The sun will have to break down any surface crusts that formed overnight, but once it does, we can start to think about wet loose avalanches on steep sunny slopes.  Wet loose avalanches won't be an issue on slopes exposed to strong west winds, or just in areas that stay socked in with clouds all day.  

    Rollerballs, pinwheels, and wet sluffs fanning out below your feet or machine are obvious clues that the snow surface is becoming wet and weak. In some areas, these wet loose avalanches could grow powerful and grow large, given the amount of recent snow over the last week.   Avoid travel above or below terrain traps where wet loose avalanches may release.  You can always move to shadier aspects without exposure as the warming commences.  Give cornices a large berth when travelling along ridgelines. 

    (2/26/2026)

    Roller balls started to release on a south aspect near Steeple rock during periods of sunshine

    Photo: Sam Luthy - NPS

Avalanche Discussion

This is an unusual snowpack setup for the Olympics and we need your observations! Share what you see with us, we love photos and clear descriptions. Please consider submitting an observation as early as possible in the afternoon to help inform the evening forecast. Read the neighboring Cascade zones to see how persistent slabs and strong winds with fresh wind loading are leading to dangerous conditions in many areas. 

A significant storm cycle last weekend brought about 2" of water/16-24" of snow to the Hurricane Ridge area along with a fair amount of wind.  NPS staff observed evidence of natural avalanches of Monday.  The last few days, Hurricane Ridge and the eastern slopes have been in the "rain shadow" caused by strong westerly flow. Depsite moderate to strong winds, milder temperatures and sunshine has moistened surfaces and limited fresh wind-loading.  

 Strong west winds, light snow and clouds have been draped over the western part of the range.  The new snow drastically improved the snow coverage, even at lower elevations.  However, this snow feel on bare ground and some places.  Travel in the woods, lower elevations, and on previously melted out slopes will still present travel obstacles.  Travel cautiously in these areas to avoid injury.  

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