Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Winds redistributed low-density snow onto colder, shaded aspects to form slabs that you can still trigger. Before committing to a steeper slope, check for signs of fresh cornices, nearby wind lips, or scoured ridgelines that can help you determine the loading pattern. Throughout the terrain, remind yourself that obstacles remain shallowly buried.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    3-5" of snow fell at Hurricane Friday and Friday night. Winds blew the fresh and recent snow into firmer slabs that you can still trigger. Look for layers where it's hard to push your fist into.  If these layers overly snow you can push your fist into, that slab may be reactive. It's best to identify this snow structure before moving into steeper terrain where you could trigger an avalanche. You can also use clues such as scoured ridgelines (wind loading likely on the slopes opposite) - or fresh, sharp cornices above a deposition zone - to determine which slopes to steer around. There's a great picture in the photo reel, showing snow stripped down to the dirt on one side of a ridge, while the other side is wind loaded and a prime candidate for a wind slab avalanche.  

    Remind yourself to give freshly formed cornices a wide berth as they can break back further than you expect. 

     

    Example: Actively blowing snow, freshly building sharp cornices, and textured surfaces. All easy-to-identify signs of wind-loading. Look for slabs to develop on the slopes on the left side of the picture.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Winter arrived in a big way this week, transforming the landscape with several feet of new snow and cold temperatures.  Observers at Hurricane Ridge found generally a right-side-up snowpack in wind-sheltered areas with snow depths of 2.5-3'. In wind-loaded areas, snow depths may be twice as deep.  A few dry loose avalanches or sluffs were noted in very steep terrain.  One small slab avalanche was noted above a road cut but generally stable conditions were observed.  Near ridgelines, wind was the major factor, actively stripping some slopes and loading others. Shooting cracks were observed while traveling along ridgelines in the stiffer snow and should continue to be a good indicator for instability moving forward.  The 1.5-2' of storm snow received this week is well bonded to the underlying crust.  A layer of weak snow near the crust that formed last month was not reactive in snowpack tests but warrants additional evaluation at upper elevations.

Milder temperatures and sunshine on Saturday likely created small wet loose avalanches and formed thin crusts on sun-affected aspects. Expect some cooling on Sunday with more cloud cover. The overall relatively benign weather continues gradually lower the avalanche risk.

While lower elevations are in great shape for this early in the season, use extra care as you drop down lower and watch for shallowly buried rocks, stumps and open creeks. 

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

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 anytime 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]. 

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