Lawinenlagebericht

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
Keine Stufe
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 3 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist across the Blues today. However, small wet loose avalanches are possible on steep > 35 degree slopes at low to mid elevations that didn't experience an overnight freeze.  The hazard will rise quickly if rain on snow occurs in the afternoon hours. 

This forecast is sponsored by Outlaw Motorsports.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    The lack of a hard freeze overnight and the possibility of .5" of rain in the afternoon will elevate this problem type throughout the day. Wet loose avalanches may be human-triggered on steep >35 degree slopes in the PM with daytime warming and/or rain on snow. Potential warning signs of wet loose activity include rollerballs and pinwheels cartwheeling down the slope, sinking up to your boot tops in wet snow, or getting your sled bogged down in a soupy moist mess. Recreationists in the Blues should be especially careful traveling up steep canyon gullies and drainages in the afternoon as slopes become unstable. Avoid and stay out from underneath steep (>35 degree) slopes, and if you must traverse steep slopes, be sure to go one at a time. 

    (2/21/2024)

    West Aspect at 7200' on 2/21

    Photo: Wallowa Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

No danger rating has been issued for the lowest elevation band in the Blues (3000'-4000') due to the lack of snow in that zone. If we receive significant low elevation snow we will begin forecasting for that zone again.

The persistent slab problem has been dropped from our list of avalanche problems. The snowpack in the Blues is well consolidated from the top to bottom. The weak sugary snow from this Fall/early Winter has been moistened, compressed, and capped by very dense crusts. You can read and watch more about conditions in the Blues here.

The Blue Mountains will be hit with a significant storm system by Sunday afternoon. Come Tuesday morning, the Blues could see 10-12" of new snow. Most of this precip will arrive in the early hours of Monday and continue through the day. The passage of the cold front on Monday will bring snow levels down to valley bottoms by 10am. The new snow will not bond well to the existing weak snow surfaces. This increases the likelihood of a storm slab problem developing on Monday where storm totals approach 10" or more. 

The lack of a hard freeze overnight and the possibility of up to .5" water in the form of rain coming in the afternoon will keep the wet loose avalanche problem alive in the Blues through Monday morning.  Wet loose avalanches or sluffs can carry you to places you don't want to be. Look for rollerballs and pinwheels as visual clues of wet loose avalanches. If you see these signs or start sinking into the wet snow seek lower-angle slopes or slopes without terrain traps in case you take a ride.

Check out WAC forecaster, Nick Burks, most recent observation from near Spout Springs. 

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