Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Expect generally safe avalanche conditions. Avalanches are unlikely. Watch for isolated wind drifts in very steep, upper elevation terrain.

Our last daily Backcountry Avalanche Forecast will be this Sunday, April 11th.

It was a blustery day yesterday, particularly in the Treasure and Magic Valleys. Reports of wind damage from yesterday's storm continue to roll in: interstate and highway closures for dust storms, overturned tractor-trailers, downed power poles, and uprooted trees to name just a few. Here in the mountains, impacts were mainly felt in our southern zones and although less dramatic, were notable. 

Extreme (>38 mph) wind gusts were recorded at most upper elevation wind stations including on Baldy, Upper Vienna (head of Smiley Ck), and Upper Soldier. Our Upper Soldier weather station recorded a sustained NW wind of 53 mph (enough to knock you off balance) and a gust of 92 mph (you wouldn't be standing). Of course, this isn't terribly uncommon for this weather station. Earlier this year the wind blew hard enough to tear the anemometer (wind sensor) clean off the tower and tumble it several hundred feet down the ridge. 

Yesterday, professionals in the Sawtooths reported blowing snow but very little slab development. This is often the case with strong/extreme, gusty, or shifting wind. Rather than transporting snow into uniform, identifiable slabs, it spreads it all around in no particular pattern or airlifts it back into the atmosphere. Prior to this storm, very little soft snow was left to drift. Hard crusts capped the snowpack on most slopes. However, extreme wind can break apart thin surface crusts accessing softer snow below. This along with a couple of inches of snow near Banner, the Sawtooths, and the White Clouds may have provided just enough ammo to build small, isolated wind slabs in the alpine. 

-------------------------------------------------

PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU:  We want to learn more about how you use the Forecast and our products. Kelly Rice-McNeil (Eastern Oregon University) and Victor McNeil (Wallowa Avalanche Center) are spearheading a project to understand how you use avalanche center products and, ultimately, to improve them. Help us help you by taking 10 minutes or so to fill out a survey. Teaser: there is a little SAC-specific questioning involved—please participate and get your backcountry partners, friends, family, and clients involved! Google Forms link:  https://forms.gle/YwgEwHRnT4ucSF226