Lawinenlagebericht

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Fri
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

Dangerous avalanche conditions will develop this afternoon as a powerful storm brings heavy snowfall and strong wind. Naturally occurring 1-2 foot thick avalanches may break widely on buried weak layers. Slides can be triggered from long distances away from the slope that releases. Triggering 3+ foot thick avalanches on deeply buried weak layers is possible.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Today's 3-7" of snow and strong S and SW wind will build fresh, sensitive wind slabs in exposed terrain. Given the intensity of the wind, anticipate these slabs on any open slope, including the mouths of main drainages and roadways that typically funnel wind.

    While dangerous on their own, these fresh slabs are likely to release on the persistent weak layers described below. Cornices will grow rapidly, calving off to release slabs on the slopes below. Drifts, dunes, rippled snow surfaces, and chalky snow pillows are clues that the wind has been at work. If you're experiencing whiteout conditions, you're traveling through the most dangerous overlap of today's avalanche problems. 

    (2/27/2024) This slab avalanche was triggered Tuesday from 50 ft away on a low-angle ridgeline. It broke widely in wind-drifted snow on a thin layer of facets above a crust. Cracks extended another 100' cross-slope beyond the crown. Smiley Ck, ENE @ 9,100'. Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1.5–3

    Expect dangerous slabs to form in areas affected by the wind. You could also encounter thin, sensitive slabs in areas sheltered from the wind as storm snow accumulates throughout the day. These slides will break widely on a weak snow interface, including slick facets, crusts + facets, and surface hoar, shallowly buried by Monday's storm.  

    Triggering a very large, destructive 3+ foot thick avalanche on weak layers near the middle and base of the snowpack is a real possibility. The odds that these deeper weak layers wake up will only increase as the storm intensifies this evening and tomorrow. 

    Anticipate touchy conditions that will only worsen late in the day and as you climb into windier terrain. Persistent Slab avalanches can release in surprising ways. You can trigger them from flat or low-angle terrain long distances away from steep slopes, and they can break far above you. Snowpack cracking and collapsing are obvious clues that the slab + weak layer combination you've encountered is unstable. 

    (2/26/2024) This slab avalanche released in the Banner Summit Zone during an intense period of precipitation on Monday. Today's storm will build similar slabs, creating dangerous conditions on steep slopes.  Photo: VandenBos

Avalanche Discussion

A powerful storm is directing a fire hose of atmospheric river moisture at our region. Expect wind speed and snowfall intensity to increase throughout the day, causing whiteout conditions. The chance of natural and human-triggered avalanches will increase rapidly this afternoon and overnight, creating dangerous avalanche conditions in many areas. The worst of this storm will be felt at upper elevation locations near Baldy, Dollarhide Summit, and the Soldiers. If you're traveling on the northern border of this zone, default to the neighboring zone's forecast. 

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