Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Stubborn wind slabs can still triggered in specific areas Thursday and may be obscured by more recent lower density snow. Use caution near steep wind loaded open slopes. A rising snowline through the day will allow for generally small loose wet avalanches in steep terrain below 4500 feet.
Detailed Forecast
Scattered light snow showers in the morning should become steady light rain and snow in the afternoon. Snow levels should gradually climb through the daylight hours and again further overnight as precipitation and winds increase.Â
Generally light showers paired with lighter winds on Wednesday should have helped stabilize recent storm snow heading into Thursday. Stubborn wind slabs can still triggered in specific areas Thursday. Wind slabs found near and above treeline may be obscured by more recent lower density snow. Use caution near steep wind loaded open slopes. Cornices are likely large and should be given a wide berth as they often break back further than you expect.Â
Denser storm snow should not pile up fast enough to form fresh storm slabs Thursday. However, a rising snowline through the day will allow for generally small loose wet avalanches in steep terrain below 4500 feet.Â
Snowpack Discussion
No recent observations translate to a high degree of uncertainty regarding the current state of the snowpack in the Hurricane Ridge area.Â
After a period of heavy rain Monday, generally light snowfall at lowering snow levels with decreasing winds have been seen Tuesday and Wednesday. Several inches of new snow are likely well-bonded above the 1/29 crust.Â
Below the refreezing crust, the snowpack is generally well-consolidated and there are no layers of concern.Â
Observations
No observations have been received since Saturday 1/28.Â
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: Alpine, Treeline.
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.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1