Avalanche Forecast
Jan 29th, 2019–Jan 30th, 2019
Alpine
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be below threshold
Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be below threshold
Below Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold
Alpine
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be below threshold
Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be below threshold
Below Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold
Regions: Olympics.
The Bottom Line: Firm surface crusts exist on all aspects and elevations in this zone after several days of clear very mild weather, limiting the avalanche danger, but creating hazardous terrain travel with slide for life conditions possible. Light winds should allow the sun and warm temperatures to soften snow surfaces on sunny slopes where deeper melting surface could create a small Loose Wet avalanche on steep slopes or near rocks.
Snow and Avalanche Discussion
During the current stretch of fair weather, limited reports from the Olympic Mountains are trickling in. Small and large Loose Wet avalanches occurred naturally on solar aspects (visible from Hurricane Ridge and also the northeast Olympics) over the weekend. The slides entrained significant wet snow. We expect that avalanche activity has decreased as the snow adjusted to the mid-winter spring interlude with above freezing temperatures at Hurricane Ridge since January 24th with inversion conditions reported. However, if you see signs that the snow is not adjusting well to the warming, such as glide cracks, cornice failures, larger avalanches, or wet snow that your boot sinks easily into, seek safer terrain. Rollerballs or wet snow deeper than your ankle give you the first clue to find firmer and safer conditions.
Wednesday is expected to be similar to Tuesday with temperatures in the 40’s, but with even lighter winds.
Reports generally show limited snow cover below 4000’ and continuous snow travel above about 4500’ with many crusts in the snowpack providing evidence of multiple rain events this season.
The road to Hurricane Ridge is scheduled to open this week and our observer team is working to gather more specific snowpack and avalanche observations from Hurricane Ridge.
Forecast schedule
For the 2018-19 winter season, avalanche hazard ratings will be issued for the Olympics Friday through Sunday and during holidays. We will resume issuing ratings when access is once again available following the recent government shutdown.
General snowpack and weather summaries will be available on days that the Hurricane Ridge road is closed.