Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The rain/snow line will stick around higher elevations before cooling Saturday afternoon.   Anywhere you find wet mushy snow, use caution on steep slopes where you might trigger a small wet avalanche.  The snowpack is particularly thin at lower/mid elevations, so travel with care to navigate early-season hazards. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    It should be difficult to trigger a wet loose avalanche on Saturday, given the snowpack has already seen mild temperatures and periods of rain.  At upper elevations, you may find a few inches of wet snow, and it's here you might trigger a small wet loose avalanche on steep smooth slopes. These aren't going to be huge or destructive slides, so it's really about making sure you don't find yourself pushed into a terrain trap, like over a cliff band or into trees.  Choose simpler terrain if you find yourself sinking into wet snow surfaces more than a few inches deep.  

    Falling temperatures Saturday afternoon will likely bring an end to wet snow avalanche concerns at upper elevations.  If the snow level drops more quickly than expected, start thinking about shallow new wind slabs forming on lee slopes at higher elevations. 

    (1/2/2026)

    Small rollerballs illustrate that the snow has become wet and sticky.  These often are a precursor to wet loose avalanches.  

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Thursday and Friday were mild, with temperatures generally near or above freezing at Hurricane Ridge, a continuation of mild weather that started in late December.  On Thursday, NPS rangers found southerly aspects with a thin 1 cm thick crust (this crust likely broke down on Friday as temperatures climbed above freezing).  On northerly aspects they encountered denser soft snow.  Of note, they found 2-3 cm of near-surface facets on low-angle or flat slopes near the top of Hurricane Hill and patches of 3 mm feathery surface hoar in open areas on the ridgeline out to Hurricane Hill.   We'll have to see if any weak snow survives the weekend's forecast of mild, wet conditions.  You're likely to find the robust 12/24 crust within the upper foot of the snowpack, likely averaging 6-8 inches down on a shaded aspect.

Glide cracks have opened in some parts of the Cascades.  If you're in areas where you see glide cracks, make sure you don't linger underneath them.  Glide avalanches can occur randomly during mild, wet periods.

Snowfall before the warm-up drastically improved travel across the range.  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. 

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