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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 10th, 2015–Feb 11th, 2015

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Olympics.

Avalanche danger should be limited to above treeline on the high peaks of the Olympics on Wednesday.

Detailed Forecast

Fair weather should be seen on Wednesday with some high clouds especially over the Olympics and north Cascades. Quite a rise in freezing levels should be seen Wednesday so that means significantly warmer temperatures.

The only problem on Wednesday might be loose wet avalanches but only on the high peaks of the Olympics.

Lingering wind slab will be listed as a problem for one more day above tree line but this should also only be on the high peaks of the Olympics.

Be careful if you try to ski in areas with snow in the Olympics and watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation.

Snowpack Discussion

A series of fronts in an atmospheric river crossed the Northwest the past few days. The NWAC site at Hurricane had about 5 inches of WE mostly as rain. What a winter we are having here in the Northwest! Some snow may have fallen in the highest parts of the Olympics but there was little if any at Hurricane.

The meager amounts of snow where there is any that remain at Hurricane are not currently creating an avalanche problem near or below treeline. South slopes at Hurricane are devoid of snow. On shaded or north slopes at Hurricane is there a couple feet of stable consolidated rounded grains or melt forms and crusts.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the 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. 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.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the 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.