Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Olympics.
By Wednesday, the latest storm snow will be at least 3 days old and weaknesses in storm layers will have likely settled and stabilized, especially on solar aspects. Conintue to watch for earlier wind slab deposits on steeper non-solar aspects at higher elevations, but mainly watch for solar effects on the recent snow on steep exposed terrain.
Detailed Forecast
A weak upper ridge should move across the area Wednesday, causing further clearing with little change in freezing levels.  However, solar effects should cause significant daytime warming.  This should again lead to mainly wet snow avalanche concerns. Â
As the older storm slab and wind slab layers continue to settle and stabilize Wednesday, the main concern should be mainly wet loose avalanches on steep sun exposed terrain. This should be likely on solar slopes in all three elevations bands and may be also possible on non-solar slopes. Watch for wet surface snow deeper than a few inches, roller balls in surface snow and small natural wet loose releases that usually precede more major wet loose snow avalanches. Avoid terrain traps where a small but powerful wet loose avalanche could have unintended consequences.
Continue to watch for areas of recent wind slab on lee slopes. This is likely on shaded north to east slopes near and above treeline. Watch for signs of cracking or firmer wind transported snow and approach open lee slopes with caution.
Remember to watch for cornices if you venture onto ridges Wednesday and avoid slopes below cornices. Cornice failures are often seen during the transition to spring weather.
Snowpack Discussion
A wintery weather pattern was renewed over the Northwest starting last Tuesday lasting until Sunday midday. About 2 feet of snow fell at Hurricane between last Tuesday and Sunday with less snow at lower elevations.
Avalanche conditions also became active through the weekend.  We are now seeing a mix of winter snow conditions mainly on shaded slopes at higher elevations and spring snow conditions on solar slopes and at lower elevations.Â
A frontal system passing through on Friday brought moderate south winds and wet snowfall at Hurricane Ridge, with rain likely not far below in elevation. NWAC observer Katy Reid at Hurricane on Friday reported local wind slab along along lee ridges with pit tests giving stubborn but clean shears. She also found some storm snow instabilities giving clean results in hand tests at about 15 cm or 6" below the surface.
By Sunday, additional new snow at slightly colder temperatures was creating additional storm and wind slab concerns, especially with the effects of strong solar input at times.
The Park ranger at Hurricane Tuesday morning reported widespread but shallow loose wet slides that released during warming Monday.
Little or no new snow has fallen since Sunday with periods of sunshine and temperatures in the low 40's allowing storm weaknesses to quickly settle and stabilize.  While we have been in a stabilizing pattern going on three days come Wednesday, making human triggered slides much less likely, there still may be some unstable wind slab or storm slab conditions remaining, especially higher elevation shaded slopes where stabilization has been slower. Continue to choose conservative terrain, watching for previous wind deposits.    Â
Wind slab cracking from ski at Hurricane Ridge, Near Tree Line, Sunday 3/30Â by NWAC observer Katy Reid.
Natural wind slab avalanches likely from Saturday were found at Hurricane by Katy on Sunday with several releases up to size 2 mainly 6-12 inches but stepping up to 2.5 feet on a north slope. Tests indicated a clean interface at about 20 cm in the storm snow.
Natural wind slab avalanches found at Hurricane on Sunday by NWAC observer Katy Reid.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. They generally move slowly, but can contain enough mass to cause significant damage to trees, cars or buildings. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Travel when the snow surface is colder and stronger. Plan your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the afternoon. Move to colder, shadier slopes once the snow surface turns slushly. Avoid steep, sunlit slopes above terrain traps, cliffs areas and long sustained steep pitches.
Several loose wet avalanches, and lots of pinwheels and roller balls.
Loose wet avalanches occur where water is running through the snowpack, and release at or below the trigger point. Avoid terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, or tree wells. Exit avalanche terrain when you see pinwheels, roller balls, a slushy surface, or during rain-on-snow events.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
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.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1