Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Recent N-NE winds have created some wind slab on a variety of mainly southerly aspects, especially near ridges, so make sure to evaluate wind loaded terrain. Moderate avalanche danger means human triggered avalanches are possible! Watch for wet surface snow conditions on sun exposed slopes during the warmest part of the day.
Detailed Forecast
Thursday should continue to be mostly sunny with light winds. Temperatures should remain warm. The main avalanche problem should be any areas of lingering wind slabs formed through Tuesday. More recent northerly winds likely redistributed snow on more southerly aspects above and near treeline. Warm temperatures and sunshine should again cause a chance of small wet loose slides on some steeper southerly facing slopes. good settled powder should persist on shaded slopes and wind protected slopes however.Â
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Snowpack Discussion
The Olympics have finally received enough snow to warrant avalanche forecasts for the season. NWAC observer Tyler Reid has traveled in the Hurricane Ridge area the last few days and reports Wednesday that storm slabs from this past weekends snow have settled, however, strong NE winds have highly affected the surface snow on all exposed slopes.  Lots of dense or wind stiffened surfaces. This is not classic wind slab however, and no triggered or observed avalanches were noted.
Temperatures warmed dramatically Wednesday and this caused a few small wet loose slides on steep sun exposed slopes. Â
The storm system last weekend  deposited about 6 inches at Hurricane Ridge through Sunday morning, with persistent snow showers Sunday and Sunday night adding at least another 6 inches of low density snow.   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: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
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: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1