Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
The avalanche danger is Low for all elevation bands due to low snow cover. Small loose wet avalanches may be possible in isolated steeper terrain where enough snow is present near and above treeline.
Detailed Forecast
The avalanche danger will be listed as low at all levels in the Olympics zone due to low snow.Â
Partly to mostly cloudy conditions Wednesday, with a chance of a few light showers and somewhat cooler temperatures, should not appreciably affect the current overall low avalanche danger.Â
Small loose wet avalanches may be possible in isolated steeper terrain where enough snow is present near and above treeline.Â
Remember, due to the unseasonably low snowpack especially at lower elevations, numerous terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially or completely bare rocks and vegetation are widespread. Â
Snowpack Discussion
Snow from a week ago has all been wiped away by rainfall and warm and windy weather that occurred Thursday through Sunday in the Hurricane Ridge area. The warm and mostly sunny weather Sunday and Monday with temperatures mainly in the 40's to mid 50's continues to deteriorate the remaining snow.Â
The most recent observations were made over the weekend by professional NWAC observer Katy Reid, visiting the Hurricane Ridge area, reporting very low snow coverage with many snow-free areas on all aspects near and below treeline. There were no avalanche problems near and below treeline due to the abnormally low snowdepth.Â
Katy ventured out toward Mt. Angeles Sunday, to try to assess the snow conditions in the relatively narrow above treeline band in the Hurricane Ridge area.  She found snowdepths averaging 40-80 cm on northerly aspects with a few drifts above 1 m. Snow cover quickly became patchy a few hundred feet below the ridge-line even on northerly aspects. Despite the warm temperatures, the snowpack in this area above treeline was well bonded consisting of melt forms and various crusts and did not pose an avalanche problem.Â
Klahhane Bowl looking North, 1-25-15, Photo by K. Reid
View towards Hurricane Ridge, from Klahhane Ridge towards the west, 1-25-15, photo, K. Reid
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.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1