Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Avalanche danger should be limited to the higher peaks of the Olympics on Monday.
Detailed Forecast
Frontal moisture should mostly lift north to BC  Sunday night to Monday afternoon. A chance of light rain or snow will be forecast for Monday for the Olympics which should not greatly change conditions.
Watch for possible wet surface snow deeper than a few inches, increasing snow balling or natural loose wet avalanches. While a loose wet avalanche problem should be mainly on solar slopes watch for it on all steep slopes with significant snow.
Wind slab may linger on previous lee slopes above tree line. Watch for possible firmer previously wind transported snow mainly on north to east aspects.
These avalanche problems should be limited to the higher peaks of the Olympics.
Most areas near and below treeline in the Olympics do not have enough snow to cause an avalanche danger.
Snowpack Discussion
The storm snow from mid to late March at Hurricane Ridge and in the areas below treeline mostly melted in warm weather or rain events including the mid 50 degree sunshine Thursday and Friday.Â
The remaining snow, having undergone several melt-freeze cycles of late, should be well consolidated at this point. There have been no reports by rangers or other observers, of any loose wet slide activity over the past few days.
A vigorous front and short wave crossed the Northwest Friday night causing strong west-southwest winds, some rain and snow and lowering snow levels. But snowfall should have been light at Hurricane and bonded well to previous wet snow.
Frontal moisture is moving mainly to BC Sunday and causing a little rain at Hurricane.
While the snowpack remains meager along Hurricane Ridge, there is likely only enough snow for avalanches near and above treeline on the higher peaks of the Olympics.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. They generally move slowly, but can contain enough mass to cause significant damage to trees, cars or buildings. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Travel when the snow surface is colder and stronger. Plan your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the afternoon. Move to colder, shadier slopes once the snow surface turns slushly. Avoid steep, sunlit slopes above terrain traps, cliffs areas and long sustained steep pitches.
Several loose wet avalanches, and lots of pinwheels and roller balls.
Loose wet avalanches occur where water is running through the snowpack, and release at or below the trigger point. Avoid terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, or tree wells. Exit avalanche terrain when you see pinwheels, roller balls, a slushy surface, or during rain-on-snow events.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Wind Slabs
Release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Wind Slabs form in specific areas, and are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features. They can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind-scoured areas..
Wind Slab avalanche. Winds blew from left to right. The area above the ridge has been scoured, and the snow drifted into a wind slab on the slope below.
Wind slabs can take up to a week to stabilize. They are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features and can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind scoured areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1