Lawinenlagebericht

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sun
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

A shift to warm and wet weather will keep the focus on wet snow avalanche problems.  Stay off very steep slopes at all elevations where you find wet punchy snow, especially near terrain traps. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

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

    Where you you find wet and sticky snow, you may trigger wet loose avalanches on nearby slopes steeper than 40 degrees.  Most wet loose avalanches will be small, but they could be larger depending on the slope, if there's a crust to run on, and how much snow is available for entrainment.  Be mindful of triggering even a small wet loose avalanche near terrain traps like above trees, gullies, and cliffs.  

    We probably won't see enough rain in the Hurricane Ridge area to unleash deeper or more widespread wet snow problems on Saturday, but if the rain is heavier than expected or you're in another part of the range that sees heavier rain, start to think about larger and more consequential wet avalanches releasing from upper elevations as water works its way deeper into the snowpack.  With the warm temperatures alone,  big blocks of snow may start to shed from steep rocky faces and cornices may fail naturally.  Move along and don't spend time below these features or anywhere you see glide cracks opening. These avalanches are unpredictable and it's better to just put space between you and the potential hazard. 

    (1/25/2024)

    You're likely to see more evidence of rollerballs, pinwheels and small wet loose avalanches over the weekend, just like what observers found on Thursday near Steeple Rock.  Don't let a small slide catch you near a terrain trap. 

    Photo: Kaitlin Harrigan

Avalanche Discussion

After a dry day on Friday, precipitation moved in right before sunset and started as rain at Hurricane Ridge.  Snow levels will rise above 7000' Friday night and stay around there over the next few days, keeping the focus squarely on wet snow avalanche problems.

NWAC observer Kaitlin and NPS staff were out in the Steeple Rock area Thursday.  They found a snow-line around 4500' and 4" of heavy new snow above a supportable crust.  During the work week, small shots of new snow and oscillating snow-lines had led to several rounds of rollerballs and small wet loose avalanches on all aspects.  The upper snowpack consists of a series of crusts and drier snow that could become ingredients for larger wet avalanches later into the weekend.  Near and just above 5000', they found snow depths ranging from 1' to 4.5' depending on the aspect and exposure. Lower elevations and areas with low snow depths will likely have significant melt-out as the warm wet weather drags into next week.  

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