Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
A continued mix of winter like and spring conditions should continue early Sunday with increasing wet snow conditions by Sunday afternoon.
Detailed Forecast
Updated Sun AM to increase avalanche danger, especially storm slab near and above treeline and wet loose avalanche concerns lower in elevation.  Also, watch for and generally avoid weakened cornices along ridges.Â
A front with increasing clouds and moisture will move across the region Saturday night, then east of the area Sunday. This is expected to cause increased winds and increasing rain and snow with slightly rising snow levels in the Olympics late Saturday and Saturday night.
This system should build some new shallow wind and storm slab at higher terrain and increase surface wet snow conditions below tree line. Â Â
Watch for natural avalanches, pinwheels and surface wet snow deeper than a few inches on any solar slope Sunday. Â Watch for evidence of wind transported snow in the higher terrain.
Snowpack Discussion
Only light amounts of about 4-6 inches of new snow have accumulated in the Hurricane Ridge area since last weekend.  Daily max temperatures have climbed above freezing most days, leaving a strong melt-freeze surface crust on most exposed slopes as of early Saturday morning. A park ranger from Hurricane reported a walkable surface crust Saturday morning with only very small amounts of new snow on the surface.
NWAC observer Katy Reid, reported Friday that all slopes had a melt-freeze crust with shaded terrain, maintaining 3-4 inches of soft and dryer recent snow being well bonded. Â Heavier, moist to wet shallow surface snow was found on solar aspects with some shallow, loose wet slides, releasing on steeper exposed terrain by Friday afternoon. Â Wind exposed terrain near and above treeline had been scoured of recent snow to firmer old surfaces. There were also some recent cornice growth noted as well as a few isolated, but stubborn wind pockets on lee slopes in higher terrain.Â
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Natural loose wet avalanche on 35 degree SW facing slope below tree line at Hurricane on Friday, April 4th. By NWAC observer Katy 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.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Storm Slabs
Release of a soft cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within the storm snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slab problems typically last between a few hours and few days. Storm-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.
You can reduce your risk from Storm Slabs by waiting a day or two after a storm before venturing into steep terrain. Storm slabs are most dangerous on slopes with terrain traps, such as timber, gullies, over cliffs, or terrain features that make it difficult for a rider to escape off the side.
Storm slabs usually stabilize within a few days, and release at or below the trigger point. They exist throughout the terrain, and can be avoided by waiting for the storm snow to stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
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, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1