Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 23rd, 2018–Jan 24th, 2018

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

Regions

Olympics.

The avalanche danger will lower slightly during the day on Wednesday, but dangerous avalanche conditions will persist due to the potential for triggering a large and deadly avalanche. Recent storm and wind slabs require time to heal, so be patient and match your terrain selection appropriately. Tree-well and snow immersion hazards are very dangerous, so keep communication with your partner at all times.

Detailed Forecast

A frontal system will continue to bring significant snowfall to the Olympics Tuesday evening before tapering down overnight along with a slight cooling trend. On Wednesday, rain and snow showers will be light to occasionally moderate with winds. 

The avalanche danger will lower slightly during the day on Wednesday, but dangerous avalanche conditions will persist due to the high potential for triggering a large and deadly avalanche. Recent storm and wind slabs require time to heal, so be patient and match your terrain selection appropriately. Tree-well and snow immersion hazards are very dangerous, so keep communication with your partner at all times.

Snowpack Discussion

A snowy pattern that began last week continues to bring new snow nearly every day to the Olympics. Since 1/17, the total snowdepth at Hurricane Ridge has jumped nearly 40 inches!

An estimated 3-4 feet of snow rests above the most recent crust on sheltered slopes. Moderate to occasionally strong S-SW winds have continued to transport new and recent snowfall in the Hurricane Ridge area over the last few days. Two separate avalanche cycles may have occurred since Sunday. New storm snow instabilities have had little time to settle due to the consistent loading in the Hurricane Ridge area over the last few days. 

A loose wet cycle may occur below 5000' Tuesday night and stretch into Wednesday morning. 

A high degree of uncertainty exists in this area due to the lack of observations over the last week.

Observations

No recent observations

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.