Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. The likelihood of large natural and human-triggered avalanches will increase dramatically throughout the day as the storm rages on. Expect to encounter a range of storm-related avalanche problems including wind slabs, storm slabs, and loose snow avalanches. Weak layers buried underneath 3-6 foot slabs will produce very large, very destructive avalanches that can be triggered from long distances away. Rain and warm temperatures at lower elevations will bring on wet snow problems this afternoon. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Conditions are most dangerous in the western half of this zone where more snow is forecast—from Dollarhide Summit and west into the Soldiers.

The only portion of our forecast area that isn't expected to get a big shot of snow today is the Wood River Valley. Here, more modest snow totals of 4-8" are expected. However, you won't need to go far to encounter very dangerous conditions. If you head over to Fairfield and north into the Soldiers, or if you drive out the Warm Springs Road, you'll be encountering a very dangerous world. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it is safe in the Wood River Valley, not by a long shot. It is just slightly less dangerous.

We have two distinct persistent slab problems that set the stage for today's storm (read the Persistent Slab problem discussion above). These problems were keeping many experienced backcountry users out of large avalanche terrain, even before this storm. The weight of the new snow will make them much more reactive, and the smaller natural avalanches that will frequently occur will be effective triggers for these deeper weak layers. Here is a look at the types of storm-related avalanche problems you can expect to encounter today:

DRY SNOW: In upper and middle elevation terrain we will see a range of dry snow avalanche hazards, ranging from small to very large. 

1. Wind slabs: Strong to extreme winds will accompany today's snowfall. These slabs will be thickest and most widespread in upper elevation terrain, but reactive slabs will be forming at all elevations.
2. Storm slabs: Today's snowfall will be intense. Expect to see some impressive precipitation rates. Rapidly falling snow will create storm slabs that will be easy to trigger, even in terrain sheltered from the wind. 
3. Spindrift slabs: In steep terrain, snow will be cascading down cliff bands and couloirs to the aprons below. Large, sensitive slabs will be forming here.
4. Loose snow: Rapid snowfall rates will produce frequent loose snow avalanches. These slides will be easy to trigger. They'll start out small, but may pick up a lot of speed as they travel downslope, particularly where they are running on crusts.
5. Cornices: This year has been snowy, windy, and cold. Massive cornices exist along many ridgelines. Today's storm will add a hefty load on top of these huge chunks of snow. Small to very large cornice failures are expected today. You don't want to be nearby when these beasts become unmoored. 

WET SNOW: At lower elevations, the snowpack is beginning to go through its springtime transition. You'll find icy crusts on the surface this morning, but it is warm and moist underneath. As today's warming temperatures and low elevation rain melt the snow we will see some weird, wet snow activity at lower elevations. Loose, wet snow avalanches may gouge deeply into the snowpack, producing destructive avalanches. Large, dry snow avalanches that run down into wet snow below can be very destructive. Wet slab avalanches are unpredictable, but they are certainly well within the realm of possibility today.

The overlap of an intense storm with proven weak layers is producing very dangerous avalanche conditions. Today is the first day of April, but you'll be well served to travel like it is a dangerous day in January. The only effective management strategy today is to stay out of the way.