Lawinenlagebericht

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
Auf der Karte ansehen

Lawinengefahr

Mon
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
Open full map
Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist last year abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Wet snow avalanches are possible in steep, rocky terrain receiving direct sun—be wary of traveling on or below these slopes, especially later in the day.  Cornices are large and may be unstable—give them a wide berth.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1.5–2

    Loose snow avalanches are possible on very steep, rocky slopes receiving direct sun. Avalanche activity is most likely on S-facing slopes by midday and on W-facing terrain this afternoon. These slides often initiate near the base of trees and rocks, gathering snow and growing in size as they move downhill. Rollerballs, or pinwheels, signify that the snow is heating up, and wet avalanches may soon follow. A mushy, wet snow surface indicates that stability is deteriorating and the likelihood of triggering a slide is increasing. 

    While most will start small, they may will grow large and dangerous or push you into unwanted terrain. Some slides have the potential to flank out into wider wet slab avalanches. Even small slides are consequential above terrain traps such as gullies, creeks, and thick timber. Plan your day to avoid lingering under steep, sunny slopes when the sun is out.

    (3/1/2025)

    Natural wet loose slides on the SE face of Williams Pk. near 10,000'. These likely occurred sometime on 02/28.

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Without a solid freeze overnight, the upper snowpack has remained wet, and any thin surface crusts formed overnight will quickly break down on slopes basking in unobscured sunlight. Today's wet snow problems will follow the sun's path—E and SE in the morning and S, SW, and W in the afternoon. Many slopes have already shed and slid naturally over the past few days of strong sun and warm temperatures, so widespread naturals or signs of instability, like rollerballs or pinwheels, may not be obvious. Friday, skiers in the northern Sawtooths watched and heard several small wet loose avalanches and observed a few small thin wet slabs (6-8" thick). With continued warm temperatures today, similar avalanches are possible. If you encounter a wet, mushy snow surface, you could trigger a wet loose slide, particularly on very steep, sun-drenched slopes. To manage this, avoid lingering under or traveling on steep slopes during the heat of the day or where the upper 5–8 inches of the snowpack is wet and mushy.

Be wary of traveling near or under hanging cornices. Warm temperatures may cause these overhanging cornices to sag and fail. 

 

Abgedeckte Regionen