Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Watch for warming and rain affecting recent storm snow, mainly where local deposits are greatest, such as lee slopes below ridges at higher elevations.
Detailed Forecast
A strong warm front should spread increasing precipitation to the Olympics Saturday with strong winds and substantial warming with freezing levels climbing above 8,000 feet.Â
The rain should cause some local increased danger, mainly above treeline in those areas where deeper recent storm snow may exist, with increased likelihood of wet loose or isolated wet slab avalanches. It is not likely there should be a significant increase in the danger from this problem around the Hurricane Ridge area, however, due to the shallow recent snow amounts.Â
On backcountry travel safety note, watch for terrain hazards (exposed rocks, trees, streams, etc.) at lower elevations and on wind scoured aspects.
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Snowpack Discussion
Observations received Friday from NWAC observer Tyler Reid touring around Hurricane Ridge, indicated the recent storm snow was not all too impressive only amounting to 2-3 inches and finished off with a nice rain crust. This has limited the amount of increased danger forecast Friday by a wide margin, but the downhill conditions were not well suited for enjoyable recreating anyway.
The overall snowpack remains very shallow around the Hurricane Ridge areas of the Olympics, consisting of the shallow new snow, in places, over well consolidated melt freeze or crust layers.Â
The only noted avalanche problem Friday was very small, localized cornice formations along some NW ridges.  There are plenty of terrain anchors, or just exposed terrain, near and below treeline with the current shallow overall snow depths.Â
Avalanche Problems
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: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Wet Slabs
Release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slab avalanches can be very destructive.
Avoid terrain where and when you suspect Wet Slab avalanche activity. Give yourself a wide safety buffer to handle the uncertainty
A Wet Slab avalanche. In this avalanche, the meltwater pooled above a dusty layer of snow. Note all the smaller wet loose avalanches to either side.
Wet slabs occur when there is liquid water in the snowpack, and can release during the first few days of a warming period. Travel early in the day and avoiding avalanche paths when you see pinwheels, roller balls, loose wet avalanches, and during rain-on-snow events.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1