Lawinenlagebericht

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
3 · Erheblich
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Kernpunkte

New snowfall on a variety of weak surfaces will create dangerous avalanche conditions today. Near and above treeline slab avalanches will be the primary concern with dry loose avalanches likely below treeline. Choosing slope angles less than 30 degrees is recommended to avoid avalanches today.

This forecast is sponsored by Robert Brooks Painting.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–2.5

    Since Wednesday (3/22) more than a foot of new snow has fallen. This new snow fell on surface hoar and/or melt-freeze crusts. Additional snowfall this afternoon will add to the depth of potential avalanches and continue to stress the bond between the new and old snow. Wind slabs that formed (on top of surface hoar) on east, northeast, north, and possibly northwest facing slopes near and above treeline are now getting buried and may be harder to detect, but are still likely to be triggered.

    Cautious route finding and conservative decision-making will be essential for traveling through avalanche terrain today. Human-triggered avalanches are likely today on terrain steeper than 30 degrees and natural avalanches are possible.  If you see natural avalanches on terrain similar to the terrain you are considering, chose terrain less than 30 degrees. If you are seeing other red flags like shooting cracks, or you hear and feel "whumpfs" , these red flags are telling you the snow you are traveling upon is unstable and could avalanche. An observation yesterday from the Southern Wallowas reports shooting cracks, whumpfing and avalanches triggered.

    (3/22/2023)

    This photo of surface hoar was taken in the Northern Wallowas at a ridge-top location at around 9000'.  Surface hoar was observed everywhere we traveled between 6000' and 9000'. The surface hoar, where present, will be a weak layer that could easily fail under the weight of new snow expected to arrive Thursday into Saturday. Surface hoar was also observed recently in the Southern Wallowas and Northern Elkhorn mountains.

    Photo: TG

  • Loose Dry

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

    Lots of new snow means that it is likely that a skier or rider will be able to trigger a dry loose avalanche today on steep slopes that remain undisturbed by wind. You are most likely to find these avalanches in steep wind-sheltered areas that have a melt-freeze crust under the new snow. These avalanches may start as small sluffs but gain size and momentum as they run. Exercise caution on slopes where these avalanches could take you for a ride into rocks, trees or push you into a gully. 

    (3/23/2023)

    Small skier-triggered Dry Loose avalanche on a  test slope  in the Northern Elkhorns.

    Photo: TG

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday's break in snowfall has given the snowpack a moment to adjust to the new snow that has fallen since Wednesday. This break also gave the snow time to settle and form more cohesive slabs. In addition to the avalanche problems forecasted above, be on the look out for storm slabs. These storm slabs will have formed where the new snow has lost some of its "fluffiness" and become more cohesive. 

Another round of snow this afternoon will renew and refresh the avalanche hazard. Thank you for your observations and please let us know what you see out there today!

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