Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
Despite a cooling trend, recently formed storm slabs should still be sensitive Sunday. Colder temperatures will help preserve wind slab instabilities near and above treeline. Enjoy the new snow but choose conservative terrain and allow storm related instabilities time to heal.
Detailed Forecast
More snow is on the way Saturday night with a cooling trend and generally light snow showers forecast for Sunday. SW  winds should decrease during the day, becoming E or NE by the afternoon. Â
Despite a cooling trend, recently formed storm slabs may still be sensitive Sunday. While storm slabs are most likely to release within the most recent storm layers, various crusts throughout the area are capable of providing bed surfaces for larger avalanches in isolated terrain.Â
Colder temperatures will help preserve wind slab instabilities near and above treeline. We've highlighted more traditional lee easterly aspects on the elevation/aspect diagram, but be aware of cross-loaded slopes and that easterly winds earlier in the week loaded westerly aspects. Feel for firmer wind transported snow as you climb higher in the terrain. Â E-NE winds should start to move snow to more westerly aspects Sunday night.Â
Enjoy the new snow but choose conservative terrain and allow storm related instabilities time to heal. Â
Â
Snowpack Discussion
Weather and Snowpack
Strong NE-E winds were seen this past Wednesday and Thursday with very cold temperatures.Â
A storm cycle began Friday with generally 1-2 feet of snow accumulating at Hurricane Ridge area through 5 pm Saturday. Steady and moderate snow levels through the storm cycle began to lower Saturday afternoon.Â
Recent Observations
NWAC pro-observer Matt Schonwald was at Hurricane on Friday (before most of storm snow arrived) and found scoured slopes or shallow new snow on EÂ slopes and shallow building wind slab on SW slopes. He found no significant signs of instability, ski tracks still visible from last week and lots of surface roughness to fill in on lee slopes.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Release of a soft cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within the storm snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slab problems typically last between a few hours and few days. 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.
You can reduce your risk from Storm Slabs by waiting a day or two after a storm before venturing into steep terrain. Storm slabs are most dangerous on slopes with terrain traps, such as timber, gullies, over cliffs, or terrain features that make it difficult for a rider to escape off the side.
Storm slabs usually stabilize within a few days, and release at or below the trigger point. They exist throughout the terrain, and can be avoided by waiting for the storm snow to stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Wind Slabs
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.
Wind Slabs form in specific areas, and are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features. They can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind-scoured areas..
Wind Slab avalanche. Winds blew from left to right. The area above the ridge has been scoured, and the snow drifted into a wind slab on the slope below.
Wind slabs can take up to a week to stabilize. They are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features and can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind scoured areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1