Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Very dangerous avalanche conditions persist in much of the terrain. Storm, wind or persistent slabs will be sensitive Wednesday in the Olympics. The safest plan is to avoid avalanche terrain of consequence until storm and persistent slabs stabilize.
Detailed Forecast
Stormy conditions Tuesday night should gradually ease by Wednesday as a brief break in storms occurs through the day Wednesday. Light winds and a lack of significant additional snowfall should allow for a gradual decrease in danger. However, cold temperatures will limit the stabilization Wednesday.
Storm slabs will continue to be sensitive to trigger and widespread Wednesday. The current storm slabs have formed over a variety of weak surface conditions, including near surface faceted snow and possible surface hoar. Natural or triggered storm slabs may break down to deeper persistent layers, making larger and more dangerous avalanches possible Wednesday. Â
The persistent slab problem should remain sensitive to natural or triggered avalanches with the new snow load.
Fresh wind slabs should persist near and above treeline on a variety of lee slopes near ridges and exposed cross loaded features.Â
The persistent slab problem warrants your attention in the Olympics, especially with significant recent loading. Remember that persistent weak layers are generally involved in larger avalanches and cautious route-finding and conservative decision making will be essential for safe travel Tuesday. Continue to exercise caution Wednesday and avoid avalanche terrain of consequence. Â
Snowpack Discussion
Weather and Snowpack
A front crossed the Northwest on Thursday, followed by an upper trough on Friday. This produced about 8-10 inches of snow at Hurricane Ridge.
Scattered snow showers, a mix of sun and clouds, and generally light winds summed up the weather on Saturday with fair and cold weather on Christmas Day.Â
A quiet Monday morning became a storm as the snow arrived with winds increasing to 25-40 mph at Hurricane Ridge by Monday afternoon.Â
A strong front cross the Olympics early Tuesday morning, followed by moderate snow showers through the day Tuesday. About 15 inches of new storm snow had accumulated at Hurricane from Monday morning through Tuesday afternoon.Â
Recent Observations
NWAC pro-observer, Matt Schonwald was at Hurricane Ridge on Friday, 12/23, and gave an important report. He was triggering collapsing (whumpfing) in every open area that he visited on Friday. In two test snowpits on slopes less than 30 degrees, Matt found the December 17th persistent weak layer (PWL) consisting of well preserved, buried surface hoar and faceted snow at about 45-50 cm below the surface, propagating in extended column tests. While the ski conditions were excellent, the persistent slab problem prohibited safe access to steeper and more open terrain, limiting further investigation as to the distribution and sensitivity of the persistent slab layer.
Matt also reported that cornices were growing on the lee northeast sides of ridges on Friday.
On Saturday NPS rangers indicated several 30-40 cm slabs had been skier triggered on S-SE aspects above the Hurricane Ridge Road, with one larger slide hitting the road. In the more north facing terrain, backcountry skiers reported no whumpfing, shooting cracks or general signs of instability to NPS rangers on Saturday. The road to Hurricane was closed on Christmas Day.
By Monday afternoon, NPS rangers described stormy conditions with drifting snow and very strong winds as the front began to impact the Ridge.Â
An NPS ranger reported evidence of a natural avalanche seen Tuesday 12/27 with an estimated crown of 2 feet or more releasing in a wind loaded area.Â
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Release of a cohesive layer of soft to hard snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slabs.
The best ways to manage the risk from Persistent Slabs is to make conservative terrain choices. They can be triggered by light loads and weeks after the last storm. The slabs often propagate in surprising and unpredictable ways. This makes this problem difficult to predict and manage and requires a wide safety buffer to handle the uncertainty.
This Persistent Slab was triggered remotely, failed on a layer of faceted snow in the middle of the snowpack, and crossed several terrain features.
Persistent slabs can be triggered by light loads and weeks after the last storm. You can trigger them remotely and they often propagate across and beyond terrain features that would otherwise confine wind and storm slabs. Give yourself a wide safety buffer to handle the uncertainty.
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
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, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1