Avalanche forecast

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Fresh snow, slightly lower snow levels, and very windy conditions combine to create a real slab hazard. Shallow slabs become increasingly likely to trigger once you find 3" or more of average snow depth in your terrain. In areas with sufficient new snow, steer around steep or poorly supported open slopes to the lee of ridgelines.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Moderate to strong winds will accompany around 0.5" of water forecast to arrive at Hurricane Ridge through Thursday. This could be around 6" of dry snow at upper elevations, with lesser amounts of wet snow near Hurricane Ridge elevations. You'll want to monitor the average depth of snow in the terrain, how dry it is, and how much transport has occurred. Evidence for recent snow transport may be most useful in evaluating a slab hazard on Thursday. Look for visual clues including cracking, lens-shaped pillows of recent snow, or fresh, sharp cornices overlying suspect slopes. You can also feel for wind-stiffened snow above less dense layers that sit above a crust. If you find any of these signs in your terrain, navigate away from wind-loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees.

    Example: Wind-textured snow like this indicates wind slabs may lurk nearby.

    Photo: Sam Siemens-Luthy

Avalanche Discussion

A series of windy storms arrived at Hurricane Ridge on Tuesday and Wednesday. The first brought around 0.8" of water equivalent to Hurricane Ridge with rain likely reaching the highest ridgelines. The second system remains in progress, but brought cooler temperatures and around 1" (maybe 2") to Hurricane Ridge by 4 PM on Wednesday as temperatures hovered around 32F during the afternoon. Rangers reported snow down to 4500 ft. Winds were gusting to around 40 mph Wednesday morning, following Tuesday's winds that knocked down trash cans. Winds decreased as rain changed to snow Wednesday afternoon and the snow was not expected to have created a real hazard without additional accumulation.

You may find rain falling on snow or milder temperatures at times on Thursday. If you encounter poorly consolidated snow that you can sink into past your ankle, stay off of steep slopes where you might be able to trigger a small wet avalanche.

In most of the terrain, travel hazards remain your biggest challenge. In most cases there is not enough snow to recreate at lower elevations (below 4500 ft). Very shallow coverage exists even at middle and upper elevations. Wind-stripped aspects, typically sun-affected slopes, and ridgelines may have a dusting or no snow at all. Rocks, roots, grass, and stumps will exacerbate any fall on ice or potentially a small avalanche. Observers reported that N-NE aspects held the deepest snow along with your best chance for continuous on-snow travel as of last weekend. You can also see this in the photo Poma Bowl in the gallery.

We know some of you will be out enjoying the backcountry - please take a few minutes and share what you're seeing through an observation. 

NWAC may issue a gray "No Rating" for an elevation band when there is not enough snow to present an avalanche hazard.

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