Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Wind slabs may still be possible to human triggering Wednesday, but are becoming more difficult with each day. Remember MODERATE danger means human triggered avalanches are possible. Recent unconsolidated storm snow is still deep in places with possible large tree wells lurking, so stick near your partner in the trees. Also avoid recent large cornices.
Detailed Forecast
Partly cloudy to mostly sunny weather with cool temperatures and  light winds are expected Wednesday. This should allow for recent wind slabs to continue to slowly settle and stabilize.
However, earlier formed wind slab will most likely be found on N-SE aspects near and above tree line and on some cross loaded features below tree line as well. Wind slab avalanches should stay within recent storm layers. Test for inverted strong over weak wind layers and give recently formed cornices a wide margin.
Beware of loose dry avalanches in steep non-wind affected terrain that could have unintended  such as knocking you off your feet and into a terrain trap.
There have been snow immersion fatalities in tree wells already this season at Snoqualmie and in Canada. Recent unconsolidated storm snow is still very deep in places with possible large tree wells lurking, so stick near your partner in the trees and maintain visual contact. Â
Snowpack Discussion
We have had about a week of heavy snow and cool temperatures in the Olympics and Cascades, with the snow tapering over the past four days. Only three inches of additional snowfall was reported at Hurricane Ridge in the past three days as of Tuesday morning. It's been dry and very cool with light winds Monday and Tuesday.  The Hurricane Ridge height of snow 86 inches Tuesday morning only indicating a little settlement since the heavy snows last week.Â
The storm snow during the week before Christmas was about 4 feet at Hurricane Ridge.  The main message is that most of the storm layers have settled, leaving some areas of the recent wind slab as the primary avalanche problem on many exposed slopes and terrain features.Â
The most recent observations were made Sunday the 27th, by NWAC observer, Matt Schonwald who found a wide distribution of wind slab along ridge features as well as cross loaded slopes below ridgeline.  Matt ski cut a wind slab on a steep convex feature on a N facing slope at about 4800 feet. These features were evident on many exposed N-E facing slopes exposed to wind.
Hurricane Ridge December 27, 2015. Triggered wind slabs on a steep convex N slope, 4800 ft. Photos T. Allen
Also reported that cornices were quite large, overhanging some 2 meters in places, and posed their own hazard due to their size.  Â
In non-wind affected areas, the upper snowpack was generally right side up with increasing hardness with depth and still providing good skiing conditions. Unlike last year, there is now a healthy snowpack below treeline on all aspects.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.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind lips of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.
Cornices can never be trusted and avoiding them is necessary for safe backcountry travel. Stay well back from ridgeline areas with cornices. They often overhang the ridge edge can be triggered remotely. Avoid areas underneath cornices. Even small Cornice Fall can trigger a larger avalanche and large Cornice Fall can easily crush a human. Periods of significant temperature warm-up are times to be particularly aware.
A corniced ridgeline. A large cornice has formed at the top of the ridge. A smaller cornice has formed to the left of the trees from crossloading.
Cornices are easy to identify and are confined to lee and cross-loaded ridges, sub-ridges, and sharp convexities. They are easiest to trigger during periods of rapid growth (new snow and wind), rapid warming, and during rain-on-snow events. Cornices often catch people by surprise when they break farther back onto flatter areas than expected.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1