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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Apr 7th, 2015–Apr 8th, 2015
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Olympics.

Watch for generally small avalanches involving new storm snow on a variety of aspects and mainly above treeline. 

Detailed Forecast

Showers should end by Wednesday with clearing skies, light winds and relatively cool temperatures. Recent snow may have only amounted to a few inches over the past few days, but in some areas above treeline there may be slightly more recent snow. 

For those slopes above treeline with enough snow to present an avalanche hazard...

It's April, so be aware of the increased solar input reaching more aspects and affecting the snow surface quickly. Loose wet avalanches involving shallow amounts of recent storm snow will be be possible Wednesday at higher elevations. 

Due to the continued cool weather, cornices won't be listed as an avalanche problem, 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. 

A pair of cool frontal systems caused very light accumulations at Hurricane Ridge on Tuesday and again on Friday. Showers over the past several days may have added a few more inches of snow for some of the Olympic range, but little or no new snow has accumulated 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, as any new snow received doesn't last long with the lengthening daylight and increased sun angles.     

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

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