Lawinenlagebericht

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sun
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 4 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

The avalanche danger continues to build following Thursday's reset near and below treeline. Hazard increases near ridgelines with heightened danger on leeward slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Once you lose Thursday's crust, prepare to dial back your ambitions if you experience propagating cracks or more widespread wind-affected snow.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    Another round of 3-5" of snow Friday night into Saturday will continue to grow these slabs up to size 1.5, following a similar round of snow Thursday night.  Slabs sit above a rain crust that formed up to 5400 ft during milder weather Thursday morning. This crust serves as an easy way to gauge the average snow depth in your terrain, the amount of snow available for transport, and the amount of snow loading on wind-loaded slopes.  You'll want to steer around deeper drifted areas near ridgelines. If you head above treeline, you may lose the crust as a reference. Use simple hand pits or inconsequential wind-loaded test slopes to evaluate slab reactivity as you ascend. Note the scoured sides of ridgelines and assume that wind-drifted slabs may be possible to trigger below fresh (and potentially reactive) cornices on the other side. 

Avalanche Discussion

NWAC professionals were in the Mt. Hood backcountry on Thursday. They observed rain up to 4000 ft turning to wet snow near 4800 ft and dry snow above around 5500 ft. Given the mild temperatures, there was minimal snow available for transport. Rainfall up to 5400 ft and milder temperatures early in the day formed an upside-down slab near the snow surface. At the time, this slab did not have a propensity to propagate. The remainder of the upper snowpack was right-side-up and well-bonded to the Christmas Crust (visible in the snowpit image from Maggies). You could trigger a shallow loose (dry-ish) avalanche on a very steep, wind-protected NW aspect.

Forecasting is a community effort and you can help. Please consider submitting an observation if you head out on Friday!

2022-2023 Forecast Schedule

NWAC will issue an avalanche forecast every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and every holiday mid-week day the Hurricane Ridge Road is open from December-early April.  We will issue Avalanche Watches or Warnings when conditions warrant.  New for this season, we will not update the non-holiday midweek discussion.  Our mountain weather forecasts will continue to cover the Olympics and are issued twice a day through late April.  If you have questions or feedback, please contact us at [email protected] and [email protected]. 

If you're out in the snow, share your observations with us and your local backcountry community.

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