Lawinenlagebericht

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

It will be possible to trigger an avalanche today as winds pick up and transport snow onto the leeward side of ridgelines and cross-load mid-slope terrain features.  It is still possible to trigger a deeper and more destructive avalanche in persistent weak layers buried 2-3' deep in the snowpack.  To avoid avalanches, steer clear of terrain steeper than 30 degrees, wind-loaded slopes, and areas that harbor a shallow snowpack (less than 3 feet).  

This forecast is sponsored by The Wallowa County Gamblers Snowmobile Club.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    1–2

    We are still finding poor snowpack structure in the Blues, although it is unlikely you would trigger a persistent slab, it is not impossible.  We continue to be in the realm of the low-probability, high-consequence persistent slab problem.  Triggering one of these slides would have serious consequences. The November/December facets are capped by a thick crust, rounded, moist, and beginning to bond but are still substantially weaker than the snow above and below them. This creates the recipe for an avalanche. Snowpack tests on 2/7 confirm this. 

     

     

    (2/7/2024)

    Column failed 100cm down where the saw is stuck in the snow.

    Photo: Nick Burks

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    Increasing winds today out of the South and Southwest will blow surface snow onto leeward slopes and cross-load mid-slope terrain features.  These wind slab avalanches could break up to 12-16" deep.

    Look for clues of windslab development such as cornices along ridgelines, a rippled texture on the snow surface, and a stiff feel to the snow under your machine or boards.  

    Avoid terrain that has been recently wind-loaded. 

    (1/11/2024)

    Rippled Snow Surface and Cracking are good indications of wind slab development. 

    Photo: Caleb Merrill

Avalanche Discussion

The Blues finally had a week of mostly below-freezing temperatures. A thick crust has formed. That thick crust is now covered by 6-10" of new snow.  As time progresses, the light new snow will settle into more of a slab and could become a bit more reactive.  This will become accelerated by an increase in wind today.  

On North aspects that may be sheltered from the wind, it will remain possible to see or trigger some small dry loose avalanches.  On middle and lower elevation solar aspects that are sheltered from the wind, you may continue to see some minor wet loose avalanches as these slopes catch direct sun and warmer temperatures this afternoon. 

Be observant of how today's weather is affecting the snowpack.  Look for clues of wind loading (see above), use small inconsequential test slopes to test the reactivity of wind slabs, dry loose, and wet loose avalanches (this afternoon).  Dig down to the rain crust with your hand and get curious about how well the new snow has bonded to the Rain Crust. 

Unfortunately, the snowpack structure is still weak and a persistent slab avalanche could still be triggered.  The snowpack in the Blues is thinner than the other forecast areas. Because there is less "insulation" between the surface and these buried weak layers it is possible to affect these weak layers even through the thick crusts.

You can watch/read this observation for more details.

WAC Executive Director/Forecaster, Victor McNeil wrote this excellent Conditions Blog. It provides a great summary of conditions in January and what that means for the snowpack now in February.

Keep the observations coming!  Let us know what you are seeing in your travels by submitting an observation here.  

 

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