Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The weather just keeps heating up in the Olympics. As it does so, you could encounter wet unstable snow on a variety of aspects and elevations depending on the time of day. When you begin to sink into the snow past your ankle, it’s time to seek out more frozen or lower angled slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    It shouldn’t take long for the strong April sun and warm daytime temperatures to weaken the poorly frozen snow surface. As it does so, the generally good stability you may enjoy first thing in the morning will rapidly change. Once you start to sink into the snow past your ankle, it’s time to change slopes. Seek out shaded aspects with a more frozen snow surface to reduce your risk. As the snow builds up more water at the surface, you could see natural loose wet slides especially starting in steep and rocky terrain. While loose wet avalanches can appear easy to predict, observe, and manage, they can still harm you if they carry you into a creek or over a cliff. Remember slopes you traveled in the morning may react very differently later in the day.

    (4/4/2021) Example: Take the time to step off your mode of travel and see how deeply you are sinking into the moist snow. If you're sinking in deeper than your ankle, you should start to suspect wet avalanches.

Avalanche Discussion

As we continue through this prolonged warm period our uncertainty grows. Wednesday night will be the second in a row with the potential for a relatively poor or shallow refreeze. This can allow for water to travel freely in the upper snowpack and reach other layers or even the ground. These conditions can produce isolated wet slab, glide, cornice, and/or shedding avalanches. Predicting the exact timing of spring avalanche cycles is tricky business. Stack the odds in your favor by choosing routes that help limit the amount of time you spend lingering in large avalanche paths and underneath cornices. If you see crevasse-like glide cracks, give the terrain below a wide berth. Glides can release without warning and fail even during nighttime hours when temperatures are cooler. 

While much of the snow surface has been affected by several days of warm and sunny weather, you may still find pockets of dry snow on high northerly aspects. These are the same spots you could encounter isolated lingering wind slabs. Use caution in shaded steep rocky terrain and near the base of cliffs where you’re could possibly trigger one of these avalanches. 

Daily avalanche forecasts will end on Sunday, April 18th.

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.

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