Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
The avalanche danger will lower slightly during the day on Wednesday, but dangerous avalanche conditions will persist due to the potential for triggering a large and deadly avalanche. Recent storm and wind slabs require time to heal, so be patient and match your terrain selection appropriately. Tree-well and snow immersion hazards are very dangerous, so keep communication with your partner at all times.
Detailed Forecast
A frontal system will continue to bring significant snowfall to the Olympics Tuesday evening before tapering down overnight along with a slight cooling trend. On Wednesday, rain and snow showers will be light to occasionally moderate with winds.Â
The avalanche danger will lower slightly during the day on Wednesday, but dangerous avalanche conditions will persist due to the high potential for triggering a large and deadly avalanche. Recent storm and wind slabs require time to heal, so be patient and match your terrain selection appropriately. Tree-well and snow immersion hazards are very dangerous, so keep communication with your partner at all times.
Snowpack Discussion
A snowy pattern that began last week continues to bring new snow nearly every day to the Olympics. Since 1/17, the total snowdepth at Hurricane Ridge has jumped nearly 40 inches!
An estimated 3-4 feet of snow rests above the most recent crust on sheltered slopes. Moderate to occasionally strong S-SW winds have continued to transport new and recent snowfall in the Hurricane Ridge area over the last few days. Two separate avalanche cycles may have occurred since Sunday. New storm snow instabilities have had little time to settle due to the consistent loading in the Hurricane Ridge area over the last few days.Â
A loose wet cycle may occur below 5000' Tuesday night and stretch into Wednesday morning.Â
A high degree of uncertainty exists in this area due to the lack of observations over the last week.
Observations
No recent observations
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: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Storm Slabs
Release of a soft cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within the storm snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slab problems typically last between a few hours and few days. 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.
You can reduce your risk from Storm Slabs by waiting a day or two after a storm before venturing into steep terrain. Storm slabs are most dangerous on slopes with terrain traps, such as timber, gullies, over cliffs, or terrain features that make it difficult for a rider to escape off the side.
Storm slabs usually stabilize within a few days, and release at or below the trigger point. They exist throughout the terrain, and can be avoided by waiting for the storm snow to stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1