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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 25th, 2016–Nov 26th, 2016

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

Regions

Olympics.

Wind and storm slabs found near and above treeline should be the most sensitive avalanche problems on Saturday. Use caution in this area while navigating avalanche terrain. Take it slow, the season is just beginning! 

Detailed Forecast

A warm front lifting north Friday night should bring light to moderate precipitation to the Olympics. Along with the precipitation, there should be a moderate warming trend through Saturday morning. 

Wind and storm slabs found near and above treeline should be the most sensitive avalanche problems on Saturday. Rain below treeline should have a limited effect on the avalanche danger due to the shallow snowpack and abundance of terrain anchors.

Use caution at lower elevations where creeks, rocks and other early season terrain hazards lurk just below the surface; your body and equipment will thank you!  

Snowpack Discussion

Hurricane Ridge picked up nearly 2 inches of water over the last 48 hours and the Waterhole NRCS Snotel snowdepth jumped up 18 inches overnight. The bottom line is there's enough snow to slide in and around the Hurricane Ridge area but the potential for avalanches should quickly decrease at lower elevations due to a shallower snowpack. 

We don't have any reports from the Olympics since the road to Hurricane was not open today, but reports of sensitive storm slabs trickled in from throughout the west slopes of the Cascades by professional patrollers and backcountry skiers. 

Below treeline new snow has begun to cover terrain anchors and fill in creeks, though many areas need more snow to transform the landscape to full winter conditions. 

It's early season and the forecasts are based on limited field observations. Keep that fact in the forefront of your mind if entering avalanche terrain this weekend. 

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.