Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Minimal snow cover might be the biggest challenge you find on Sunday with open water, bare ground, and other hazards at or near the snow surface. Look for wind-drifted snow if you make it to the highest peaks in the Olympics.  

Avalanche Discussion

Despite some sun in the forecast for Sunday, there is a low likelihood of seeing much in terms of avalanches or even signs of instability. For one there just isn't much snow on many of the slopes that will see the most sun. Also, most of the remaining snowpack has seen rain and warm temperatures and it's partially adjusted to warmth and melting. Despite all of the above, don't ignore obvious signs of instability or take low danger for granted. Keep an eye on sunny slopes still holding snow 

It looks like the mountains are taking a break from winter.  The snowline is about 4200' on northerly aspects around Hurricane Ridge. South aspects have patchy or simply no snow cover, even at upper elevations.  A crust - sometimes supportable, sometimes not - is forming at the snow surface as lowering temperatures start to firm up a snowpack that is moist from the surface to the ground. There were no reports of recent avalanche activity in the past few days.

Temperatures finally fell below freezing after a week of warmth and rain. The Hurricane Ridge weather station recorded above-freezing temperatures for most of the week back to Jan 26th.  A total of  2.68” of rain fell in the same time period. Snow surveys from the Park and also from NWAC's bi-monthly snow depth climatology report paint a picture of a snowpack between 20-30% of normal.  The current snowpack is the 5th lowest in the last 75 years.

Be prepared for off-trail travel to have an extra adventure element with intermittent snow cover, open creeks, trees, rocks, etc. Carry the proper tools to self-arrest a fall if traveling in alpine terrain or anywhere firm and slick crusts could increase the consequences of a fall.

NWAC may issue a gray "No Rating" for an elevation band when there is not enough snow to present an avalanche hazard.

Regions covered