MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE OLYMPICS WASHINGTON CASCADES AND MT HOOD AREA
NORTHWEST WEATHER AND AVALANCHE CENTER SEATTLE WASHINGTON
0930 AM PST Saturday, November 05, 2005

This statement applies to back country avalanche terrain below 7000 feet and does not apply to 
highways or operating ski areas.

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SPECIAL AVALANCHE STATEMENT

During the past week generally from 2 to over 5 feet of new snow has fallen in many higher 
elevation locations of the Washington Cascades near and west of the crest, in the Olympics and 
in the Mt Hood area, with most areas receiving an additional 8 to 12 inches during the past 24 
hours. Fortunately, much of the new snowfall has accumulated during a period of lowering 
freezing levels and this has helped to minimize the avalanche danger associated with the 
rapidly developing early season snowpack, with the lightest and lowest density snow near the 
snow surface and heavier higher density snow near the ground. Overall, this has resulted in a 
good stability profile early Saturday with recent avalanche control producing limited results. 
However, intermittently increased winds during recent fronts have produced some weak layers 
during periods of lighter wind speeds and some resultant soft slab formation near higher ridges, 
mostly above about 5 to 6000 feet where locally considerable danger may exist on steeper north 
through east exposures, especially those slopes having relatively smooth underlying ground 
surfaces. At lower elevations and along the Cascade east slopes, less wind, generally lower 
snowdepths and more terrain anchoring are helping to limit the danger increase. However, a 
moderate danger exists with generally smaller human triggered slabs possible on steep terrain 
having a smooth ground surface.

In all areas the next significant storm in the current series should spread over the region on 
Saturday, with light to moderate snow Saturday morning expected to increase and become moderate 
to heavy Saturday afternoon and evening along with generally increasing winds and a slight rise 
in freezing levels. This should result in generally increasing avalanche danger with expanding 
areas of considerable danger on north through east exposures above 5 to 6000 feet and an increasing 
moderate avalanche danger on other exposures and at lower elevations where further human triggered 
soft slabs are possible in steep smooth terrain. As a result back country travelers should exercise 
increasing caution in steeper avalanche terrain on Saturday, use safe travel techniques, assess 
route selections wisely and perform stability tests often.

Moderate to heavy snowfall should slowly decrease later Saturday night and Sunday morning, with 
light to moderate showers, low freezing levels and decreasing winds expected Sunday afternoon into 
early Monday. While this weather should allow recent wind slabs to slowly settle and begin to 
stabilize, expected low temperatures and continued shower activity should make this a relatively 
slow process, with unstable wind slabs likely to persist in steep lee terrain, especially north 
through east exposures above 5 to 6000 feet. Hence travelers are urged to be avalanche aware, and 
objectively apply snowpack, terrain and weather factors to decisions about where, what and how to 
ski or ride the slope ahead.

This statement will be updated over the weekend as necessary. Regular daily forecasts are scheduled 
to begin Monday, November 7th 2005.

Have a safe and enjoyable fall and winter!

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