Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Most areas of the Olympics lack snow for avalanches. The only problem to watch for Monday should be possible loose wet avalanches on solar slopes of the highest peaks of the Olympics.
Detailed Forecast
An amplifying upper ridge over the US and BC coastal waters will dominate the weather the next few days. This will cause sunny, warm weather in the Olympics and Cascades Monday and early next week.
The only problem to watch for Monday should be possible loose wet avalanches on solar slopes of the highest peaks of the Olympics.
Otherwise little change is expected until significant new snowfall is received.
Snowpack Discussion
The meager amounts of snow left in the Hurricane Ridge vicinity are not currently creating an avalanche problem near or below treeline. South slopes at Hurricane are devoid of snow. On shaded or north slopes near and above treeline, there are up to a few feet of stable and consolidated rounded grains or melt forms and crusts.
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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: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1