Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Use standard precaution as you ascend in the terrain. Once you move into areas with evidence of drifted snow, steer around wind-loaded start zones or cross-loaded features on colder, shaded aspects. Early season conditions exist along ridgelines and below treeline.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Shallow wind slabs linger on colder, shaded slopes and primarily near ridgelines and treeline. We think that sunshine and mild temperatures on Saturday largely helped stabilize shallow slabs on sunny aspects. Steer around steep, rocky start zones once you start to see textured snow surfaces or thicker snow deposits in your terrain. If you find significant active wind transport, move to windward slopes or more stable terrain. 

    Example: Scoured slopes and textured snow surfaces can help you identify thicker deposits.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Approximately 4" of snow fell at Hurricane Ridge Friday night.  The recent snow was redistributed 3-8" deep by winds Friday night. Sun destabilized the snow to form shallow wet loose avalanches on Saturday. The fresh snow was badly needed to improve conditions at the tail end of a significant atmospheric river event in the Olympics that brought around 2" of water to Hurricane Ridge. Observers generally found improving stability following the rain event. You can read accounts here and here. You may have to contend with breakable crusts on sun-affected aspects on Sunday.

Keep in mind that other parts of the Olympics, especially along the southern slopes, will have been hit much much harder by the recent rain event and low elevation travel is back to early season conditions with wide open streams that may be difficult to cross.

 If you're out in the snow (or slush), share your observations with us and your local backcountry community.

2022-2023 Forecast Schedule

NWAC will issue an avalanche forecast every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and every holiday mid-week day the Hurricane Ridge Road is open from December-early April.  We will issue Avalanche Watches or Warnings when conditions warrant.  New for this season, we will not update the non-holiday midweek discussion.  Our mountain weather forecasts will continue to cover the Olympics and are issued twice a day through late April.  If you have questions or feedback, please contact us at [email protected] and [email protected]. 

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