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

You may trigger shallow new wind slabs near and below ridgelines on Sunday.   Small loose wet avalanches are possible on very steep sunny slopes.  Use caution near terrain traps where a small avalanche could be problematic.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    A few inches of snow and plenty of wind Saturday afternoon and night will likely form fresh wind slabs on lee aspects.  Use caution before engaging with steep open slopes below ridgelines where you find winds have formed firmer wind-textured snow.  The new snow may bond poorly to a thin surface crust that formed on all aspects prior to this storm.  Look for cracking in the new snow and check the bonding of the new to old snow interface on small test slopes.  

    The sun should make an extended appearance tomorrow.  While the day may not be full-on bluebird, mid-March sunshine following fresh snow means small loose wet avalanches are possible on very steep sunny slopes. 

    While any type of avalanches within the new snow should be small,  take care around terrain traps where a small avalanche could do outsized damage. 

    Example of shooting cracks, wind textured snow, and shallow wind slabs from the Mt Baker area.  (2/24/2022)

    Photo: Adam Ü

Avalanche Discussion

Windy, mild and dry conditions lasted through early Saturday afternoon.  Clouds quickly closed in, temperatures dropped and snow began around 2 pm at Hurricane Ridge.  Snow could be seen sticking to the surfaces by 4 pm Saturday.   Moderate to strong winds and a few inches of snow Saturday night will bring a wintry feel back to Hurricane Ridge to close out the weekend.  This new snow will layer over a few inches of moist snow from mid-week and a thin surface crust. The stout early March crust won't be far below and will likely be exposed on some aspects and windward ridgelines.  We are not concerned about deeper layers in the snowpack below the early March crust moving forward.   

We haven't seen slab avalanches since the late February/early March storm and avalanche cycle.  Chunky, firm, avalanche debris in runout zones from the early March cycle may be lurking under a few inches of more recent snow.  

2021-22 Forecast Schedule: Avalanchedanger ratings will be issued for the Olympics every Friday through Sunday and during mid-week holidays. During the week when the Hurricane Ridge road is closed, forecast information will be updated daily to include expected conditions and relevant travel advice under the No Rating label.

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