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RegisterDec 29th, 2017–Dec 30th, 2017
Olympics.
Human triggered avalanches will become more likely as denser storm slab continues to build over less dense older snow near and above treeline as snowfall intensities increase during the day Friday. Watch for building wind slab on a variety of aspects near and above treeline where either older less dense or newer denser snow has been transported onto lee slopes. As rainfall increases and moves to higher elevations, watch for saturated snow and avoid consequential terrain features. Watch for changing conditions, travel conservatively and rein in your plans as conditions deteriorate throughout the day.
A second storm (Friday) on the heels of the first (Thursday), will bring significantly more precipitation and further warming than the initial system. The storm track that will bring moderate NE-SE winds shifting to SW during the day, along with further warming, increasing precipitation intensities, and snow lines rising above ridge crest level (at Hurricane) late in the day. Sharp cooling and drying should arrive during the evening hours.
Wind and storm slabs will be increasing in size and likelihood of human triggering as slabs of increasing thickness build over the lower density, weaker, older snow prior to Thursday and become increasingly touchy by later in the day. Especially watch for building wind slab on a variety of aspects as winds directions shift during the storm. Wind and storm slab issues will be confined to increasingly high elevations as the rain/snow line works it's way to higher elevations during the afternoon hours.
On Friday morning, loose wet avalanches are mostly likely encountered below treeline on steeper slopes due to warming and light to moderate rain. By afternoon, loose wet avalanches will be found further up in the near treeline band. At higher elevations which have received more snowfall, the loose wet slides will be larger and and increasingly consequential. In general, when snow is becoming saturated, avoid complex terrain as loose wet avalanches will be much more dangerous.
Watch for changing conditions, travel conservatively and rein in your plans if conditions deteriorate faster than expected. See the mountain weather tab for weather forecast details.
Also despite all the new snow, early season hazards still exist at some lower elevation locales and especially around creek beds that are not filled in.
At Hurricane Ridge, the frontal system arriving Thursday brought light snow with temperatures just below freezing, with light to occasionally moderate SW winds.
Light snow also accumulated during a series of very weak weather disturbances that traversed the area in about the past week.
The previous significant storm and snowfall was was 12/19-12/20.
Observations
The rangers reports that on Wednesday 12/27, the long narrow Tunnel path on a northeast slope above the roadway produced a loose wet avalanche that was small by the time it reached the road.
Also from the rangers, on Sunday 12/24 a skier triggered a loose dry avalanche on a north facing slope at 5200 ft on a run called Lost Bowl.
NWAC pro observer Matt Schonwald was also at Hurricane Ridge on Sunday 12/24 and reported evidence of north to east winds but no wind slab or significant layers in the upper snowpack. The snowpack structure was generally right-side with good bonds to the Thanksgiving crust.