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        Summary Avalanche Forecast for Olympics and Washington Cascades



   Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Seattle Washington



   1002 AM PST Sun Feb 12 2012



   This forecast applies to back country avalanche terrain below 7000 feet

   and does not apply to developed ski areas or highways.



Avalanche Forecast



                       Olympics- Washington Cascades-



   Sunday and Sunday night: Moderate avalanche danger on shaded lee

   terrain above about 6000 feet and low elsewhere slightly increasing

   later Sunday Olympics and Sunday night Cascades.



   Monday and Monday night: Moderate avalanche danger on lee slopes and on

   sun exposed terrain above 5000 feet, otherwise mostly low avalanche

   danger elsewhere.



Snowpack Synopsis



   After almost a week of dry and relatively mild conditions in most areas

   above a weak temperature inversion near the Cascade passes and at lower

   and mid elevations along the Cascade east slopes, several weak weather

   systems have moved through the region mid-late last week thru Saturday

   while further weakening in a strong split flow left behind by the

   departing ridge. These weak disturbances have produced intermittent

   light rain or snow, fluctuating freezing levels, and some brief sun

   breaks...resulting in mostly stable but highly variable surface snow

   conditions, depending on aspect, elevation and time of day. Such recent

   surface snow conditions include breakable crusts or thin moist snow

   layers below about 5 to 6000 feet and on previously sun exposed higher

   elevations, along with some shallow new snow or older recycled snow

   above 5 to 6000 feet on more shaded exposures.



Sunday and Sunday night



   After briefly decreasing low clouds and some light showers near and

   west of the Cascade crest early Sunday, another strongly splitting

   weather system should approach the coast later Sunday morning and

   mid-day before weakening and moving mostly southward Sunday afternoon

   and night. Nevertheless, clouds and light showers should increase over

   the Olympics mid-day and early afternoon and over the Cascades Sunday

   afternoon and evening, followed by occasional light snow Sunday

   night...heaviest in the south. Along with relatively low freezing

   levels and mainly light winds, this weather should maintain current

   dangers on Sunday and produce a slight increase in the danger overnight

   when small amounts of new snow are expected.



Monday and Monday night



   Decreasing light snow or snow showers are expected Monday morning, with

   widely scattered light showers and some sun breaks Monday afternoon and

   partly cloudy weather Monday night. Along with relatively low freezing

   levels and only light winds, this weather should produce a slight

   danger increase on sun exposed terrain during the later morning and

   afternoon hours and a slightly decreasing danger Monday night.



   NWAC weather data and forecasts are also available by calling

   206-526-6677 for Washington, 503-808-2400 for the Mt Hood area, or by

   visiting our Web site at www.nwac.us.

   Moore/Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Seattle Washington



References



   1. http://www.nwac.us/