Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Periods of strong winds will continue to move new snow through Saturday. Treat steep lee slopes at mid and upper elevations with caution as wind slabs may have formed further downslope than usual. The new snow will layer over variable surfaces; bare ground, surface crusts, wind-stiffened snow and weak faceted surface snow. Travel carefully anywhere low snow cover exists. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Several more inches of new snow are possible through Saturday afternoon along with periods of strong S-SW winds.  New and recent snow should continue drifting and loading the same lee slopes since Friday.   Where you find fresh pillow-like drifts, use caution on steep lee slopes below ridgelines where you are likely to trigger a wind slab avalanche.  You may find fatter wind-stiffened snow well below ridgelines due to the recent strong to extreme winds.  

    While the new snow has fallen on a variety of old snow surfaces, the most touchy areas may be where the new snow builds over weak surface facets.  Previous to this storm cycle, weak faceted snow along with thin surface crusts could be found on northerly aspects below ridgelines.  Red flags like shooting cracks or natural avalanches are clear signs to step back to lower angled and more sheltered terrain.  With many exposed or barely hidden obstacles like rocks and stumps, make sure to consider the consequences of a small avalanche raking you through rough terrain. 

    Snow levels will stick around 3500-4500' over the next 24 hours.  You may encounter small wet loose avalanches or more likely rollerballs at mid-elevations that experience oscillating snow levels.  

    Shooting cracks are a sign that you may trigger a wind slab in the denser wind drifted snow.  

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

The wind and snow delivered on Friday with strong to extreme SW winds recorded at the Hurricane Ridge weather station. With the road closure, we did not receive any new snowpack or avalanche observations but before the webcams were plastered over, blowing snow was easy to spot near the Hurricane Ridge Visitor's Center.  

NWAC Observer Sam Luthy was out in the Hurricane Ridge area on Thursday 2/2 and found similar snowpack conditions and structures as the week before.  Southerly aspects with snow had a stout supportable crust with the crust becoming more variable on E-W aspects.  Steeper southerlies had low or no snow cover.  Cornice lines have been trimmed back during this stretch.  Northerly aspects continued to feature a facet/crust combination in the top 1' (30cm) that was weaker than last week, something to keep an eye on as we add more snow.  Travel continued to be challenging at times due to firm crusts and/or low snow travel hazards. 

2022-2023 Forecast Schedule

NWAC will issue an avalanche forecast every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and every holiday mid-week day the Hurricane Ridge Road is open from December-early April.  We will issue Avalanche Watches or Warnings when conditions warrant.  New for this season, we will not update the non-holiday midweek discussion.  Our mountain weather forecasts will continue to cover the Olympics and are issued twice a day through late April.  If you have questions or feedback, please contact us at [email protected] and [email protected]. 

If you're out in the snow, share your observations with us and your local backcountry community.

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