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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 22nd, 2015–Mar 23rd, 2015

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Olympics.

There may be some shallow storm and wind slab above treeline Monday. Any new snow that does fall will be susceptible to sun breaks later Monday afternoon, so use extra caution on steeper solar slopes near and above treeline. 

Detailed Forecast

Light to moderate showers are expected as an upper trough passes Monday. Freezing levels should lower Monday, but be tapered by daytime warming.  Increasing SW ridge top winds may build shallow new wind slabs on some lee slopes, mainly elow ridges on N-NE facing terrain near and above treeline. 

Any new snow that does fall will be susceptible to sun breaks later Monday afternoon, so use extra caution on steeper solar slopes above treeline. 

Due to the low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation. Many areas below treeline do not have enough snow to cause an avalanche danger.

Snowpack Discussion

The 16-18 inches of storm snow from a week ago has all but melted as of Sunday as the Hurricane Ridge webcam reveals a mostly snow free grass slope again while the total snow depth in the snow study plot has settled or melted, losing 10 inches over the past week.

Just a few inches of new snow accumulated Friday through Sunday along with periods of moderate winds may have built some small cornices along ridges and transported snow to build some small wind slabs on lee slopes.

Watch for areas where greater new snow has accumulated as sun breaks will make this snow quickly susceptible to strong spring sunshine.   

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the 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. 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.

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.