Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

It’s been snowing and blowing in the Olympics all weekend, forming firm slabs along exposed ridges and near the base of cliffs. Some of these avalanches could trigger easily. Seek out lower angled or less wind loaded slopes to get off ridgelines and to the powder below.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Strong and gusty winds have been raking the Olympics all weekend and don’t appear to let up on Sunday. Travelers easily triggered wind loaded slopes near Hurricane Ridge. These slabs may only become larger and meaner with more snow. Blowing snow should help you determine local wind patterns and anticipate where these slabs likely formed. They’ll be most common along exposed ridges and where the snow sifts down near the base of cliffs and rocks. 

    These slides may not be huge, but they should be big enough to knock you around and push you over. If that sends you off a cliff, through rocks, or into a gully, that would be a very big deal. Fortunately, there’s plenty of soft snow in sheltered terrain to enjoy. 

    There are several weak layers in the upper snowpack. It's unlikely that Sunday’s additional snow will wake them up. However, wind slabs could trigger easily on these large weak grains or run far on an underlying crust.

    (2/21/2026)

    A small intentionally triggered wind slab near Victoria Overlook. WNW, 5200ft. 

    Photo: ONP Rangers

Avalanche Discussion

The Olympics are certainly taking the brunt of these storm systems. You could experience considerably more snow, larger avalanches, and more dangerous conditions in some of the remote southern portions of the range. We don’t know as much about the snowpack in these more far-flung locations. Be suspicious of all steep open slopes, especially in higher consequence terrain. 

On Saturday, an inch or two of snow fell around Hurricane Ridge. Snotel stations further south, suggest 6-8 inches of snow may have accumulated in those areas. These certainly aren’t impressive totals, but the big story was the strong and gusty winds. Some slopes near Hurricane Ridge were stripped back to grass, others loaded deeply. Rangers reported several intentionally human triggered wind slabs on frequently loaded features. 

The upper snowpack isn’t what we’re used to in the PNW. Several layers of weak snow exist, particularly on shaded aspects (NW-N-NE). You may find a layer of buried surface hoar (2/16 and/or 2/13) and sugary facets just above the prominent 2/7 crust. On more southerly slopes, these weak grains were replaced by a stout crust that the recent snow may struggle to stick to. Hand pits and small inconsequential test slopes are great ways to check on these layers in the upper snowpack. In the nearby Cascade Range, several triggered avalanches on Saturday certainly hint that these layers are coming alive. Will the Olympics follow suit? Hard to say, but worth paying attention.

Even though it’s late February, the snowpack is painfully thin. In some places, the recent snow sits on bare ground or rocks. There are so many exposed and poorly covered obstacles! Give yourself extra time to deal with these persistent travel hazards.

Regions covered