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RegisterNov 28th, 2016–Nov 29th, 2016
Olympics.
Fresh wind slab will be the primary avalanche problem on Tuesday. Look for signs of recent wind loading and don't assume a lack of natural avalanche activity means a slope can't be human triggered!
A weak front will approach the area Tuesday spreading high clouds over the area in the afternoon with perhaps some very light rain and snow beginning during the late afternoon. After a cool start Tuesday morning freezing levels should moderate a bit into the afternoon.
Fresh wind slabs in the near and above treeline bands found mainly on lee easterly aspects will be the main avalanche problem Tuesday. Watch for signs of firmer wind transported snow that indicate wind slab. Storm slabs should be more difficult to trigger and isolated on Tuesday since storm snow instabilities have had time to settle.
In much of the below treeline band there is not enough snow yet for avalanches. Avalanche problems should be limited to the upper part of this elevation band.
A great report was received via the NWAC Observations tab for Saturday for the Hurricane area. In summary pit tests gave only a low quality shears or collapses and an ECT test that did not indicate any propagation. Loose dry avalanches were indicated as the main concern.
On Sunday morning the Hurricane rangers reported 7 inches of new snow. They reported that a snowboarder on Saturday triggered a small loose dry snow avalanche on the Sunrise run, a steep slope that faces northeast at about 5200 feet.
No observations were submitted on Monday but another 4 inches accumulated above 5000 feet in the Hurricane Ridge area with generally light WNW winds recorded at the NWAC weather station.