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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 26th, 2016–Nov 27th, 2016

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Olympics.

Natural or human triggered wind and storm slab should be likely or very likely near and above treeline on Saturday. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended on Saturday.

Detailed Forecast

Update Saturday morning: A north/south oriented front and heavy moisture is over the Olympics on Saturday morning. The rangers at Hurricane Ridge report 25 inches of 24 hour snowfall with strong south winds on Saturday morning. This should make natural or human triggered wind and storm slab likely or very likely on Saturday. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at Hurricane Ridge on Saturday.

There will be a lot of difference in conditions depending on elevation in this area on Saturday!

Use caution at low elevations where creeks, rocks and other early season terrain hazards lurk just below the surface; your body and equipment will thank you!  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the 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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). 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.