Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions will continue on Friday as a multi-day storm cycle continues to impact the region.  You're likely to trigger a slab avalanche on any steep slope below ridgelines where winds have drifted new snow.  Shifting winds may have cross-loaded slopes,  so travel cautiously along ridgelines and seek out lower angle or wind-sheltered terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    You'll need to approach the upper elevations with a healthy serving of caution Friday, getting a lay of the land after several days of wind and snow.  Recent winds loaded atypical slopes Thursday in the Hurricane Ridge area and created sensitive wind slabs.  Shifting winds Thursday night and Friday morning may cross-load slopes making it tough to discern which aspects have the wind slab problem and which do not.  If you begin your travels along a ridgeline,  don't jump straight onto steep open slopes and make sure to give fresh cornices a wide berth.  Give the new snow time to settle and seek out lower angle terrain and wind-sheltered areas.  If you encounter red flags like shooting cracks or recent avalanches on similar slopes, step back and choose simpler terrain.  

    (12/23/2021)

    With shifting winds and cross-loaded slopes, cornices may not help you identify which slopes to avoid.  

    Photo: Sam Luthy

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    You may still find shallow storm slab avalanches lurking on convex rollovers at lower elevations Friday.  Continue to assess the upper snowpack with quick snow pits or by testing inconsequential slopes.  Storm slabs may release down to storm interfaces that formed over the last two days.   Due to cold temperatues, you're just as likely to trigger or see loose dry avalanches in very steep and non-wind affected terrain Friday.   Take stock of the terrain where you could trigger a fast running loose dry avalanche or sluff, and avoid slopes where you could be pushed into a terrain trap like trees or over a cliff band.  

    (12/23/2021)

    A shallow skier triggered soft slab avalanche in the new storm snow in the Snoqualmie Pass area. 

    Photo: Robert Hahn

Avalanche Discussion

This storm cycle has dropped two feet of snow through Thursday afternoon with another round of moderate wind and snow expected through Friday morning.  NPS and NWAC observers found sensitive wind slabs up to 16" deep that were easy to trigger below ridgelines on Thursday.  Small loose dry avalanches, or sluffs, released in steep terrain along the Hurricane ridge road as the snow continued to pile up Thursday.  The Dec 21 (solstice crust) can be found about 2' down, with a thicker melt-freeze crust from Dec 19 several inches below it.  Observers identified weak snow grains (facets) below the 12/21 crust.  While snow pit tests did not indicate avalanches are likely to propagate on this layer,  remember we have a limited sample size for a large backcountry.  Observe, test, and consider your terrain choice before jumping onto big open slopes Friday.  Share your observations with us and your backcountry community, we love short and simple observations along with photos. 

2021-22 Forecast Schedule: Avalanche danger ratings will be issued for the Olympics every Friday through Sunday and during mid-week holidays. During the week when the Hurricane Ridge road is closed, forecast information will be updated daily to include expected conditions and relevant travel advice under the No Rating label.

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