Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Wind and storm slabs found near and above treeline should be the most sensitive avalanche problems on Saturday. Use caution in this area while navigating avalanche terrain. Take it slow, the season is just beginning!
Detailed Forecast
A warm front lifting north Friday night should bring light to moderate precipitation to the Olympics. Along with the precipitation, there should be a moderate warming trend through Saturday morning.Â
Wind and storm slabs found near and above treeline should be the most sensitive avalanche problems on Saturday. Rain below treeline should have a limited effect on the avalanche danger due to the shallow snowpack and abundance of terrain anchors.
Use caution at lower elevations where creeks, rocks and other early season terrain hazards lurk just below the surface; your body and equipment will thank you! Â
Snowpack Discussion
Hurricane Ridge picked up nearly 2 inches of water over the last 48 hours and the Waterhole NRCS Snotel snowdepth jumped up 18 inches overnight. The bottom line is there's enough snow to slide in and around the Hurricane Ridge area but the potential for avalanches should quickly decrease at lower elevations due to a shallower snowpack.Â
We don't have any reports from the Olympics since the road to Hurricane was not open today, but reports of sensitive storm slabs trickled in from throughout the west slopes of the Cascades by professional patrollers and backcountry skiers.Â
Below treeline new snow has begun to cover terrain anchors and fill in creeks, though many areas need more snow to transform the landscape to full winter conditions.Â
It's early season and the forecasts are based on limited field observations. Keep that fact in the forefront of your mind if entering avalanche terrain this weekend.Â
Avalanche Problems
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, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
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: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1