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        Summary Avalanche Forecast for Olympics and Washington Cascades



   Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Seattle Washington



   1234 PM PST Tue Mar 06 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 near and west of the crest



   Tuesday: High danger above 5000 feet and considerable below in the

   morning decreasing in the afternoon and night.



   Wednesday: Danger increasing and becoming high above 5000 feet and

   considerable below in the afternoon.  Danger temporarily decreasing

   Wednesday night.



                    Washington Cascades east of the crest



   Tuesday: High danger above 6000 feet and considerable below in the

   morning decreasing in the afternoon and night.



   Wednesday: Danger increasing and becoming high above 6000 feet and

   considerable below in the afternoon.  Danger temporarily decreasing

   Wednesday night.



Snowpack Synopsis



   Warm weather was seen last weekend along with some heavy wet snow in

   the Mt Baker area. This caused an avalanche cycle especially Friday

   night and Saturday involving snow from the previous week. Fortunately

   there were no avalanche accidents over the weekend.



   A front crossed the Northwest Monday followed by an upper trough Monday

   night. Sites near and west of the crest received about 7-14 inches of

   snow. The winds and rapid loading are likely to have built new unstable

   storm layers on lee slopes.



Tuesday



   Winds should decrease and light snow showers should end on Tuesday

   morning. The main concern is that new storm layers on lee slopes will

   still be dangerous Tuesday morning. These layers will undergo some

   stabilizing and become slightly safer later Tuesday.



   A second concern is sun effects Tuesday afternoon. Natural or triggered

   damp or wet snow avalanches should be possible on steep slopes facing

   the sun Tuesday afternoon. People in the back country will need to be

   able make careful snow pack evaluations all day Tuesday. Stabilizing

   and overnight cooling will diminish the avalanche danger Tuesday night.



Wednesday



   Sunny weather should be seen on Wednesday with warmer temperatures by

   afternoon. The main concern Wednesday is greater development of damp or

   wet snow avalanche conditions on steep slopes facing the sun. Natural

   or triggered damp or wet snow avalanches should become likely mainly on

   steep slopes facing the sun Wednesday afternoon. Overnight cooling will

   again temporarily diminish this danger on Wednesday night.



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   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.

   Ferber/Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Seattle Washington



References



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