Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Very strong, gusty, and shifting winds should form new slabs in some strange places including well below ridgelines. Look for textured surfaces that highlight firmer drifts that could produce avalanches. Be leery of these wind-loaded spots in very steep or unsupported terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    A few inches of new snow might not seem like a big deal, but the winds associated with this storm surely are. Often very strong and gusty winds like this leave behind a very erratic loading pattern that can be trickier to discern than your average wind slab. Add the fact winds will shift from S to more SW tomorrow, and you have a bit of a puzzle on your hands. 

    The snow surface texture will help you find the potential problem. You’ll probably see rough scoured slopes, smooth fluffy snow, or textured wind slabs. This pattern may play out well below ridges, along the side of mid-slope features, and even down in the trees. Give the firmer textured slopes a wide berth, especially in more high consequence terrain.

    (12/22/2024)

    Strong winds drifted shallow amounts of new snow and formed sharp wind features on Sunday. 

    Photo: NPS Rangers

Avalanche Discussion

Another day, another few inches of snow, and another wind event. If you feel like you’ve seen this movie before, you’re right. This should play out like many of our storms this winter. With most of the snow falling overnight and into the early morning, expect the greatest danger right out of the gate. As showers wane and winds decrease the snowpack will slowly start to heal. 

Cooling temperatures should help minimize any wet snow issues. However, you may be able to push a very small wet loose slide near the rain-snow line. In these locations, several inches of wet heavy snow may bond poorly to the underlying crust. Even still, they should be tiny and not pose much of a hazard. 

Snow surfaces could be variable on Tuesday. A new breakable sun crust on more southerly aspects could cap the snowpack. The first crust you find could be the much more stout Solstice Crust. In scoured locations, this will likely be the surface. Elsewhere it will sit below the recent snow. 

Thin early-season coverage continues to be an issue, particularly at lower elevations. Open creeks, downed logs, brush, and thin coverage make for slow going.

This storm could wallop the southern and western parts of the zone. If you travel to these more remote locations, expect more snow, bigger avalanches, and more dangerous conditions.

Regions covered