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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 31st, 2018–Feb 1st, 2018

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Olympics.

Stubborn wind slabs can still triggered in specific areas Thursday and may be obscured by more recent lower density snow.  Use caution near steep wind loaded open slopes. A rising snowline through the day will allow for generally small loose wet avalanches in steep terrain below 4500 feet. 

Detailed Forecast

Scattered light snow showers in the morning should become steady light rain and snow in the afternoon. Snow levels should gradually climb through the daylight hours and again further overnight as precipitation and winds increase. 

Generally light showers paired with lighter winds on Wednesday should have helped stabilize recent storm snow heading into Thursday. Stubborn wind slabs can still triggered in specific areas Thursday. Wind slabs found near and above treeline may be obscured by more recent lower density snow.  Use caution near steep wind loaded open slopes. Cornices are likely large and should be given a wide berth as they often break back further than you expect. 

Denser storm snow should not pile up fast enough to form fresh storm slabs Thursday.  However, a rising snowline through the day will allow for generally small loose wet avalanches in steep terrain below 4500 feet. 

Snowpack Discussion

No recent observations translate to a high degree of uncertainty regarding the current state of the snowpack in the Hurricane Ridge area. 

After a period of heavy rain Monday, generally light snowfall at lowering snow levels with decreasing winds have been seen Tuesday and Wednesday.  Several inches of new snow are likely well-bonded above the 1/29 crust. 

Below the refreezing crust, the snowpack is generally well-consolidated and there are no layers of concern. 

Observations

No observations have been received since Saturday 1/28. 

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the 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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the 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. 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.