Snake River Range
Lawinengefahr
Kernpunkte
Conditions are generally safe where snowpack surfaces are frozen hard, and large avalanches are unlikely. As the day warms up, small loose snow avalanches could occur on very steep slopes. Continue to practice safe backcountry travel habits. Watch for isolated pockets of windblown snow at upper elevations & give terrain near or under cornices a wide buffer.
Avalanche Discussion
The name of the game today will continue to be those "spring-variable" conditions we all know and love. Anywhere from 0-4" of snowfall is expected to fall today. Expect to find more snow as you climb higher in elevation, and unless you're starting above 7,000 feet, expect to also encounter rain. Below is a list of conditions that you could encounter, especially if your backcountry adventures take you to steep, consequential terrain:
- Snow may still be wet, even with cooler conditions. Last evening bode well for a hard surface refreeze; however, cloudy overnight conditions generally keep wet, unsupportable snow from refreezing very well. That said, any wet avalanche activity should taper today without direct sunshine.
- Loose snow avalanches. New snow in the alpine will fall on top of crusts that exist pretty much everywhere. Today's forecasted colder temperatures and wind should help the new snow to glue onto these crusts. In areas of higher snow accumulation, you may encounter relatively small sluffs, particularly if the sun manages to pop out at any time. Pay attention to the terrain above you.
- Fresh wind slabs. Small, isolated slabs could exist on firm surfaces by late today. These will be most common in upper elevation terrain and fairly easy to identify.
- Cornices. Nobody likes these. They can break in surprising ways, even on colder days. I find that the best practice in spring is to steer clear of being too near an edge or under one of these features.
If you see avalanche activity today, please consider submitting an observation HERE. Observations allow everyone to gain a better and more complete understanding of conditions. Thanks!