Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A relatively minor upslope event brings a few inches of snow Tuesday night along with just enough winds to form shallow slabs you can trigger on atypical aspects. Don't use cornice size to identify wind-loaded slopes below. Instead,  steer around steep slopes below fresh, sharp, and potentially smaller cornices.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Fresh wind slabs will build Tuesday night while recent wind drifts formed late Sunday linger in exposed terrain. Both wind events feature NE winds coming from Fraser River outflow with plenty of low-density fluff on the ground to move. Expect very different wind loading patterns from what you expect. You might find shallower, denser, more scoured aspects on the north end of the dial, lens-shaped pillows lurk on the opposite side of the ridges. Slabs are unlikely to extend well below ridgelines, but pay attention for subtle signs of more compact snow close to the surface, such as cracking as you travel. Fresh, sharp cornices on the slopes highlights the problem area on the slopes below. Steer around suspect slopes steeper than 35 degrees near and above treeline. We expect the old, soft wind slab avalanches 

    (12/23/2021)

    With shifting winds and cross-loaded slopes, fresh soft cornices will be more valuable information than older, larger, and thicker cornices on Wednesday. 

    Photo: Sam Luthy

Avalanche Discussion

A NNW flow pattern keeps temperatures very cold with low-density snow falling daily at Hurricane Ridge. The total snow column has been settling faster than new snow has fallen over the past day or so, bringing the total snow depth to 53" with 4" of new snow since Monday morning. Over 3' of fresh snow (approximately 2 ft settled) has fallen with a right-side up density profile since 12/21. The snow bonded well to the Solstice crust according to reports from West Angeles and just south of the Hurricane Ridge visitor on Monday.  The Solstice crust was thin and vanished around 5500 ft, but tends to be supportable on southerly aspects. Below that you'll find the 12/18 crust which was 5-10 cm thick and extends up to 6000 ft. Recent stability tests have not revealed any layers of concern. 

The low-density snow remains cohesionless.  However, dry loose avalanches activity was minimal as some people tested steeper terrain features on Tuesday. Better to be mentally prepared than complacent, should small natural or human-triggered loose dry avalanches run within the surface snow on Tuesday. They might be triggered as the sun hits trees and sheds snow or where you disturb the snow on a steep slope. Loose dry avalanches only present a problem on very steep or extreme terrain features where they could push you into obstacles or bury you in a terrain trap such as a gully or creek.

Happy Holidays from the NWAC team and stay warm over the next week! 

2021-22 Forecast Schedule: Avalanche danger ratings will be issued for the Olympics every Friday through Sunday and during mid-week holidays. During the week when the Hurricane Ridge road is closed, forecast information will be updated daily to include expected conditions and relevant travel advice under the No Rating label.

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