Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche concerns will generally be confined to parts of the range where several inches of new snow accumulated during the recent storm. This is most likely higher in the terrain and in the southern Olympics. Be leery of firm wind drifted steep slopes, especially in complex rocky areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Strong winds throughout the storm likely drifted the new snow into thicker and firmer slabs along ridges and below cliffs. These wind slabs might be hidden under a few inches of light dry snow. The best way to identify potentially hazardous slopes is to look and feel for clues of local wind patterns and anticipate where wind loading likely occurred. Rime, drifts behind trees, and cornices all point toward possible wind slabs. 

    It’s hard to say how easy it will be to trigger one of these avalanches. Small slopes may give you a clue, but wind slabs are often tricky to assess. Instead, look for wind stripped or lower angle slopes to help you bypass these small wind loaded pockets.

    (1/8/2026)

    Example: Cornices and firm slabs along an exposed ridgeline from earlier this winter. Photo: ONP Rangers

Avalanche Discussion

Sunday should bring a break between storms for the Olympics. Parts of the zone could even see some sunshine. Even though it’s not snowing or blowing, a sizable storm just impacted the range. It’s a bit hard to tell from the weather stations exactly how much rain and snow fell across the zone. As of Saturday evening, sites in the southern Olympics may have received more than 1.5 inches of water. In the drier locations along the northern and eastern mountains, less than 0.5 inches fell. That’s a big difference. Somewhere up there, you might find 6-12 inches of new snow. What’s that magic elevation? We don’t know, but it could be above our forecast limit (6500ft).

With sunshine possible, this could also impact the new snow and avalanche danger. You may see small wet loose avalanches starting from near rocks and cliffs as snow sheds from these very steep slopes. If you start to see or trigger new rollerballs, wet avalanches are rearing their head. Don’t let one of these generally small slides push you over a cliff or down a narrow chute.  In places that didn’t accumulate much (or any) new snow, generally safe avalanche conditions should prevail. Instead, you may encounter wet punchy snow or a new breakable crust. 

We don't have any recent information on glide avalanches or if glide cracks have opened up or grown.  With the recent rain, these avalanches can release at any time as water percolates down - do not linger below them. 

All this rain certainly didn’t help snow coverage and travel conditions. The snowpack is painfully thin with bare ground, random holes, and open creeks common. In many ways, travel hazards rival or even exceed the avalanche risk. Give yourself extra time to manage the numerous obstacles and snow conditions,

Regions covered