Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Very dangerous conditions are expected at upper elevations and in areas of the zone that received more recent snow. Large natural avalanches may occur throughout the day. Pay attention to what’s above you and stay out of avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    It’s going to rain, and probably eventually rain to above the tops of most of the peaks in the Olympics. It’s hard to say exactly what kind or how big the slides might be. But, it’s safe to say there will be avalanches. 

    Where the upper snowpack is dry and layered, you’ll likely encounter wet slab avalanches. These notoriously hard to predict slides aren’t something to mess around with. You could also see wet loose and cornice avalanches. No matter the flavor, heavy wet snow could be rolling downhill. 

    There’s not a lot you can do to assess the stability of these problems. Best to just give them space. Stay off of steep slopes throughout the zone and limit or fully avoid traveling where avalanches can run and stop. Fortunately, most of these slides should be smaller. However, big alpine bowls could produce a few rogue big slides.

    (1/7/2025)

    Example: Wet avalanches may descend from above down to openings in the trees like this. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

When you look at the precipitation forecast for Hurricane Ridge it probably won’t grab your attention. However, much of the western and southern portions of the zone should receive several inches of water before the end of the day. These are the same areas, where that received the most recent snow. You might encounter very dangerous conditions in these more remote areas at any elevation.

Near Hurricane Ridge, it’s hard to say if enough rain will fall to tip the scales. On shaded aspects, the upper snowpack is cold, dry, and layered. Recent slab avalanches like the one in 20th of June, highlight the potential for water to overload lingering weaklayers. Needless to say, rain on dry snow is never a good thing. If the waterworks turn on, dial it back quickly. It may not take long for cornices to start falling and snow to start sliding. 

At lower elevations, the snowpack is beat up and may not pose much of a risk. Most of the hazard here comes from above. Be leery of spending time in large avalanche paths that drop from high alpine bowls. 

Avalanche danger aside, Sunday looks stormy for the Olympics. Very strong winds, heavy rain, and warm temperatures will make it hard to navigate the hazards.

Regions covered