Bollettino valanghe

Olympics

Northwest Avalanche Center
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In sintesi

Pay attention to changing conditions as a storm impacts the Olympics. Increasing winds will quickly build shallow fresh wind slabs on lee slopes at upper elevations. Rising snow levels will increase the likelihood of wet loose avalanches at low and mid-elevations.   

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–1.5

    This portion of the storm may bring more wind than snow to the Hurricane Ridge area.  Expect strong southerly winds to easily move new and recent snow on Friday, building shallow new wind slabs on lee slopes below ridgelines, especially upper elevations.  Deeper and more consequential slabs are likely along the southern slopes of the Olympics where more precipitation is forecast. Wind slabs may be more of an issue early in the day at mid-elevations before snow levels rise. 

    The usual red flags for developing wind slabs like blowing snow, textured snow surfaces, firmer or hollow-sounding snow, and shooting cracks will point you away from nearby steep open slopes below ridgelines and towards more sheltered and lower angle terrain.  

    Example of cracking in firmer wind-drifted snow on a test slope. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–1.5

    The rain-line is expected to gradually rise to near 5000' on Friday afternoon.  In the Hurricane Ridge area, plan for a few inches of wind driven snow changing to rain at lower and mid-elevations as snow levels rise during the day.  New and recent low density snow will be primed to slide downhill as temperatures warm and rain changes to snow.  Most wet loose avalanches will be small, but some may become large in isolated areas, especially on shadier aspects that are holding colder, looser snow heading into this storm. 

    At elevations where the snow becomes heavier, you experience a transition to rain, or see pinwheels/natural wet loose avalanches, it's time to avoid being on or under very steep slopes, especially slopes with terrain traps like cliffs, dense trees or gullies. 

    Wet loose avalanche debris from earlier in the season in the Steeple Rock area. 

    Photo: Kaitlin Harrigan

Avalanche Discussion

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.  We've had several days of quiet weather mid-week and temperatures have slowly crept up, poking above freezing at Hurricane Ridge on Thursday for the first time 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.

Regioni coperte