Lawinenlagebericht

Generally stable snowpack conditions exist throughout the advisory area. Yesterday, south/southwest winds were drifting snow on north-facing slopes. These winds along with 1-2 inches of snowfall overnight likely formed small and shallow wind slabs on NW, N, and NE-facing terrain. 

Today's avalanche forecast is sponsored by MileHigh Powersports of McCall. Thanks for supporting the Payette Avalanche Center.

A fast-moving storm systems clipped our advisory area yesterday afternoon into the evening. Overall, our advisory area saw 1-2 inches of accumulation. This weather system was not enough to change the danger rating for today. However, today's LOW danger is a little different than earlier this week.

Yesterday, south/southwest winds increased around mid-day as a storm began impacting the advisory area. In the northeast portion of our advisory area, winds were gusting into the 20-30 MPH above 7500'. Most windward slopes (south and southwest slopes) had soft snow on the surface yesterday. This soft snow likely formed shallow slabs of wind-deposited snow on NW, N, and NE-facing terrain. You may encounter wind slabs 3-6" thick in isolated terrain above 7500'. The destructive size is obviously small and relatively harmless, unless you are charging into steep and consequential terrain. 

Don't let your guard down just because the danger is rated LOW. Continue safe travel protocols, make sure everyone in your group is properly equipped with rescue gear (transceiver, shovel, probe). 

Overall, stable snowpack conditions exist throughout the advisory area. There are weak layers buried within the upper 1-2 feet of snow.  Some of these weak layers have shown signs of healing. The snowpack lacks dense snow (slab) above these weak layers and therefore lacks potential for propagation (indicator for creating a slab avalanche). With a larger storm system forecasted to impact our area Sunday, we can expect to see more weight (snow) and wind have the ability to form a slab above those weak layers. Sunday into Monday it will be important to pay attention to changing snow conditions as snowfall and wind increase.