Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Watch for new building wind or storm slab layers beginning Sunday morning in the Olympics.
Detailed Forecast
A moderate front should cause increasing winds and spread increasing snow especially to the near and above treeline in the Olympics Sunday morning with a slight warming trend.
This weather should build new wind slabs on lee slopes mainly near and above treeline. Watch for new or previous firmer wind transported snow mainly on the lee N to SE slopes below ridges.
New storm slab is likely where more than several inches of snow rapidly accumulates Sunday.
A slight warming trend should help to enhance new wind and storm slab layers on Sunday.
Snowpack Discussion
Weather and Snowpack
Rain and mild temperatures dominated last Sunday and Monday forming the latest crust in the Olympics. There was about 1. 5 inches of rain at Hurricane over the 2 days ending Tuesday morning.
An active and at times stormy, cooler pattern began to bury the crust on February 17th and brought about 10 inches of snow to Hurricane Wednesday to today.
The mid and lower snow pack in the Olympics should be a stable mix of crusts and layers of wet rounded snow crystals.
 Recent Observations
Professional NWAC observer, Matt Schonwald was at Hurricane Ridge on Friday. Recent storm snow deposits of about 4-6 inches had accumulated in wind sheltered locations. Very strong southerly winds were building shallow wind slabs on lee slopes near tree line below ridges and also building small cornices. Matt recommended giving new wind slab a wide berth.
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.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Storm Slabs
Release of a soft cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within the storm snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slab problems typically last between a few hours and few days. Storm-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.
You can reduce your risk from Storm Slabs by waiting a day or two after a storm before venturing into steep terrain. Storm slabs are most dangerous on slopes with terrain traps, such as timber, gullies, over cliffs, or terrain features that make it difficult for a rider to escape off the side.
Storm slabs usually stabilize within a few days, and release at or below the trigger point. They exist throughout the terrain, and can be avoided by waiting for the storm snow to stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1