Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Lingering but isolated wind slabs, will continue to heal, becoming less sensitive to human triggering. Avoid cornices and watch for any wet snow conditions developing during extended sun breaks.
Detailed Forecast
Thursday should remain cool with scattered snow showers, mainly in the afternoon. Very light new snow is expected, if any.
Sunbreaks are likely Thursday with light winds.  Â
Lingering wind slabs should continue to heal and become less sensitive to human triggering Thursday. Wind slabs should be isolated and confined to specific terrain features, more likely on N-E-S aspects near and especially above treeline.
Loose wet avalanches will not be indicated as an avalanche problem, but watch for wet surface snow if you find yourself on sun exposed slopes during extended sunbreaks.
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Snowpack Discussion
Weather and Snowpack
The latest of several warm, wet SW streams of moisture this season arrived on Valentines Day 2/14 bringing another round of heavy rain, avalanches, crusts and consolidation through Thursday 2/16 in the Olympics. Minor snow was seen at Hurricane Ridge at the tail end of the storm.
A short period of fair weather on Friday, 2/17 caused another surface crust, especially on solar aspects. Light amounts of new snow accumulated over the weekend. The NPS rangers reported 5 inches of snow Monday morning at Hurricane Ridge.Â
A mix of sun and light snow showers Wednesday freshened the surface with a few inches of snow at cool temperatures and light winds by Wednesday afternoon. Â
Recent Observations
NWAC pro observer, Matt Schonwald traveled to the Hurricane Hill region Friday. A hard, slick surface crust made travel precarious early Friday before the sun and warming began softening the crust. The few inches of snow fell during the tail end of the storm had bonded well and filled in many rain runnels, helping to smooth surface conditions. There was little evidence that the latest rain event produced any avalanches. The main hazard in the Hurricane area appeared to be an uncontrolled fall on the slick crust.
An observation via the NWAC Observations page for Hurricane reports a sizable loose wet avalanche on the W-SW side of Steeple Rock that probably occurred during the 2/14-2/16 period.
An observation via the NWAC Observations page from Mt. Ellinor on Sunday reported locally more snowfall and touchy avalanche conditions on Sunday. Â
No other 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: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1