Bollettino valanghe

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sun
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
3 · Marcato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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In sintesi

Dangerous avalanche conditions will develop on Saturday as a windy storm impacts the Olympics.  Strong winds may form wind slabs further downslope than usual. Stick to lower angle and sheltered terrain without exposure to overhead hazard.  

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Even if this storm delivers more wind than snow, expect increasing avalanche danger as fresh wind slabs quickly build on lee slopes.  The usual red flags for developing wind slabs like blowing snow, textured snow surfaces, firmer or hollow-sounding snow, and shooting cracks will all point you away from nearby steep open slopes below ridgelines and towards more sheltered and lower angle terrain.   You may find wind slabs further downslope than usual, or in unusual places.  Hurricane Ridge is typically shadowed in this weather pattern and may receive substantially less snow than other areas.   Expect deeper and more consequential slabs if you venture to other parts of the range. 

    (2/29/2024)

    Avoid terrain where you see blowing snow loading steep slopes below and fresh cornices forming.

    Photo: Kaitlin Harrigan

Avalanche Discussion

NWAC is devastated to report the death of one of our Avalanche Forecasters, Matt Primomo. Tragically, Matt passed away in a non-avalanche accident away from work on Thursday, March 7th. Matt has been a key member of the NWAC family since 2017. His life in the mountains touched so many people. We are absolutely heartbroken. Please join us as we mourn this immense loss with Matt’s family, friends, and community.

Discussion: Friday morning, NPS Rangers observed rollerballs and small wet loose avalanches along road cuts below 5000' as temperatures warmed.  Higher up, blowing snow initially limited visibility but by mid-day, temperatures had warmed above freezing at Hurricane Ridge. NWAC observers and NPS staff found beautiful weather and a generally stable snowpack in the Hurricane Ridge area Thursday.  Small wet loose avalanches and pinwheels could easily be found on steep sunny slopes. It was important to look up as huge tree bombs occasionally released as temperatures warmed.  4-6" of recent snow from early in the week was well settled with minimal wind effect along ridgelines. 

Thursday and Friday also marked a departure from an extended cool stretch, until Thursday; temperatures at Hurricane Ridge had been below freezing since  Feb 24th(!)  Avalanche concerns moving forward will most likely be tied to upcoming multi-day storm cycle.  As the story has been for much of this winter, be aware of low snow depths and travel hazards at lower elevations and on steep sunny slopes that were bare or had little snow 2 weeks ago. 

2023-2024 Forecast Schedule

NWAC will issue an avalanche forecast every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and every holiday mid-week day the Hurricane Ridge Road is open from December to early April.  We will issue Avalanche Watches or Warnings when conditions warrant.  We will not update the non-holiday midweek discussion.  Our mountain weather forecasts will continue to cover the Olympics and are issued twice a day through the end of April.  If you have questions or feedback, please contact us at [email protected] and [email protected]. 

If you're out in the snow, share your observations with us and your local backcountry community.

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