Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Incoming rain, snow, and wind will increase the avalanche danger. In areas with more precipitation or if rain makes it up into avalanche start zones, it may reach CONSIDERABLE danger in your terrain. Steer around wind loaded slopes and retreat to lower angle terrain if it starts to rain.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Middle elevations may have the highest hazard if snow changes to rain to above 5000 ft by Saturday afternoon. Rain and snow typically causes a sharp spike in avalanche danger as the cold snow rapidly adjusts to a new state. Have a plan for returning safely regardless of the conditions. If rain materializes in your area, fall back on your retreat plan, avoiding exposure to large slopes steeper than 35 degrees. If snow levels stay below the middle elevation band, you may still encountery heavy, wet upsidedown snow that you can push and get to entrain into the drier snow below.

    Example: Wet Loose activity due to rain.

    Photo: Jonathan Spitzer

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Fresh wind slabs will build as winds increase Friday night through Saturday and will remain a problem throughout the day above the rain/snow line. Gradually consolidating snow remains available for transport a few hundred feet below ridgelines, so transport may start before incoming snowfall. Hurricane Ridge might pick up around 1" of snow on Saturday, but areas further south may receive more, adding fuel to the wind slabs. Active transport and fresh, sharp cornices will be your best clue to avoid developing mostly small, reactive slabs on  steep slopes below. You can also use small wind loaded test slopes or pillows to evaluate the depth and reactivity of slabs as they are forming. Cracking, firm over lower density layering, and settlment as you move through the terrain all confirm the problem.

    Example: Cornices and blowing snow pointing to the hazard on the slope below.

    Photo: Kaitlin Harrigan

Avalanche Discussion

NWAC is aware of an avalanche involvement in the East Central Zone, Teanaway River/Longs Pass area. Information is currently limited. We are working with local authorities and Search and Rescue personnel. We will update once more information is available.

We're flying a bit blind in the Olympics right now. The snowfall generally shut off late Thursday, giving any prior storm instabilities another day to heal as warm temperatures accellerated snowpack settlement. ONP Rangers reported a relatively settled, but cold snowpack as of Thursday. Therefore, we are mostly focused on new snow hazards moving forward.

ONP Rangers traveled up to Maggie's Ridgeline on Thursday. They found 27-30 inches of snow above the 1/3 crust. This crust was still moist and blended into the recent snow below 5000 ft, but hardens and becomes more prominent above this elevation. On some SW-S-SE aspects, you may also encounter a 1/6 sun crust. The right-side-up storm snow is believed to be well bonded to either crust if you find them in your terrain. Winds had scoured slopes near ridgelines. Periods of W winds loaded E aspects Tuesday and Thursday, but you might find reverse loading from a period of SSE winds on Wednesday.

Snowfall conditions have markedly improved throughout the region. There is now 10" of snow on the Hurricane Ridge Road down to 3400 ft.  That said, snow depths remain below normal, and early-season hazards are widespread (open creeks, downed trees, rocks, etc.), especially on windward slopes and at lower elevations.  Use caution when navigating the early-season snowpack. 

Regions covered