Avalanche Forecast
Jan 30th, 2019–Jan 31st, 2019
Alpine
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be below threshold
Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be below threshold
Below Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold
Alpine
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be below threshold
Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be below threshold
Below Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold
Regions: Olympics.
The Bottom Line: We are in for another day of fair weather and mild temperatures. The ongoing melt-freeze cycle will continue to keep the snowpack strong and avalanches unlikely. The biggest hazard will be related to difficult travel conditions caused by very firm, icy slopes, or breakable crusts. The next avalanche forecast with a hazard rating for the Olympics will be issued Thursday evening, valid for Friday.
Avalanche and Snowpack Discussion
A few reports from the Olympics trickled in last weekend and told a story of natural loose wet avalanches releasing on sunny slopes near and above treeline along with generally limited snow cover below 4000’. Multiple crusts are easily identifiable in the snowpack, pointing back to the numerous rain events that have occurred this season. We expect generally safe avalanche conditions to continue in the Hurricane Ridge area on Thursday. Difficult travel conditions will likely pose the biggest hazard Thursday.
The road to Hurricane Ridge is scheduled to open this week and our professional observer team is working to gather more specific snowpack and avalanche observations from the Hurricane Ridge area.
Forecast schedule
For the 2018-19 winter season, avalanche hazard ratings will be issued for the Olympics Friday through Sunday and during holidays. We will resume issuing ratings when access is once again available following the recent government shutdown.
General snowpack and weather summaries will be available on days that the Hurricane Ridge road is closed.