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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 31st, 2014–Jan 1st, 2015

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

Regions

Olympics.

Recent N-NE winds have created some wind slab on a variety of mainly southerly aspects, especially near ridges, so make sure to evaluate wind loaded terrain. Moderate avalanche danger means human triggered avalanches are possible! Watch for wet surface snow conditions on sun exposed slopes during the warmest part of the day.

Detailed Forecast

Thursday should continue to be mostly sunny with light winds. Temperatures should remain warm. The main avalanche problem should be any areas of lingering wind slabs formed through Tuesday. More recent northerly winds likely redistributed snow on more southerly aspects above and near treeline. Warm temperatures and sunshine should again cause a chance of small wet loose slides on some steeper southerly facing slopes. good settled powder should persist on shaded slopes and wind protected slopes however. 

 

 

 

Snowpack Discussion

The Olympics have finally received enough snow to warrant avalanche forecasts for the season. NWAC observer Tyler Reid has traveled in the Hurricane Ridge area the last few days and reports Wednesday that storm slabs from this past weekends snow have settled, however, strong NE winds have highly affected the surface snow on all exposed slopes.  Lots of dense or wind stiffened surfaces. This is not classic wind slab however, and no triggered or observed avalanches were noted.

Temperatures warmed dramatically Wednesday and this caused a few small wet loose slides on steep sun exposed slopes.  

The storm system last weekend  deposited about 6 inches at Hurricane Ridge through Sunday morning, with persistent snow showers Sunday and Sunday night adding at least another 6 inches of low density snow.     

Problems

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.

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.