Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Winter has returned to the Olympics, but it's nearly spring and the sun's strength can rapidly make for locally dangerous hazards on steeper solar slopes where even a slow moving and shallow avalanche would be powerful and could force you into unintended terrain traps.
Detailed Forecast
Partly to mostly sunny skies and a modest diurnal bump in afternoon temperatures should activate the loose wet avalanche potential on solar slopes near and above treeline Monday.Â
It's nearly spring and the sun's strength can rapidly make for locally dangerous hazards on steeper solar slopes where even a slow moving and shallow avalanche would be powerful and could force you into unintended terrain traps.Â
Lighter snow accumulations along with ample terrain anchors should greatly limit the avalanche danger below treeline.Â
Due to the low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation. Many areas below treeline do not have enough snow to cause an avalanche danger.
Snowpack Discussion
The Olympics had very little snow until this weekend when an atmospheric river brought a one-two punch to the Pacific Northwest. Saturday's event brought half an inch of water to Hurricane Ridge with the snow line above 7000 ft.
However, on Sunday a low pressure system brought almost an inch of water and 12 inches of new snow at Hurricane Ridge at low snow levels. Additional snow is expected Sunday night. Â
Since many areas are starting from scratch, smooth slopes without terrain anchors or slopes with the previous snow cover are the most likely to produce avalanches and most likely found near and above treeline in the Olympics.Â
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, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1