Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Generally good stability is expected Sunday, but evaluate lee slopes mainly above treeline for local wind slab and be aware of small loose avalanches that could be problematic near terrain traps.
Detailed Forecast
Another day of weak flow aloft and cool snow levels with mainly afternoon/evening shower activity is expected Sunday.  New snow amounts are expected to be light Saturday night and Sunday.   Â
For those slopes above treeline with enough snow to present an avalanche hazard...
There haven't been many reports of wind slab, but isolated pockets of wind slab may linger on traditional lee westerly aspects from recent storms above treeline. Â
It's April, so be aware of increased solar input reaching more aspects and affecting the snow surface more quickly than winter-time. Loose wet avalanches involving shallow amounts of recent storm snow will be possible Sunday.Â
Due to the continued cool weather, cornices won't be listed as an avalanche problem either but use caution on slopes below cornices and on ridges where it can be hard to know if a cornice is present.
Snowpack Discussion
The storm snow received mid to late March at Hurricane Ridge mostly melted near and below treeline during warm and occasionally rainy weather.Â
A few cool frontal systems caused very light accumulations at Hurricane Ridge on Tuesday and again on Friday. Showers may have added a few more inches of snow for the west slopes of the Olympics Saturday, but not near Hurricane Ridge. Unfortunately, we are still a long way off from building a meaningful snowpack in the Olympic mountains as we head further into spring.  Â
No recent snowpack observations have been received from the Olympics and most areas near and below treeline in the Olympics do not have enough snow to cause an avalanche danger.
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: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Loose Wet
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. They generally move slowly, but can contain enough mass to cause significant damage to trees, cars or buildings. 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.
Travel when the snow surface is colder and stronger. Plan your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the afternoon. Move to colder, shadier slopes once the snow surface turns slushly. Avoid steep, sunlit slopes above terrain traps, cliffs areas and long sustained steep pitches.
Several loose wet avalanches, and lots of pinwheels and roller balls.
Loose wet avalanches occur where water is running through the snowpack, and release at or below the trigger point. Avoid terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, or tree wells. Exit avalanche terrain when you see pinwheels, roller balls, a slushy surface, or during rain-on-snow events.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1