Boletín de aludes

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Sat
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
1 · Débil
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó last year. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

Your chances of triggering large, destructive wet snow avalanches are becoming unlikely, but not out of the question. You can reduce your risk by traveling on colder, supportable snow and avoiding areas where you sink into a mushy, wet snowpack. Cornices are large and may be unstable—give them a wide berth. 

Problemas de aludes

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Unlikely
    Tamaño
    2–2.5

    Large wet slab avalanches are most likely at middle and upper elevations where meltwater reaches buried weak layers. Weak layers of facets and crust + facet combinations are most prominent above 8000' on slopes facing E-NE-N-NW. Very warm temperatures and warm sunshine pushed meltwater deep into the snowpack. The potential for large wet slab avalanches will remain until the snowpack fully drains or refreezes.

    This problem is hard to predict and not easily managed. Your best bet is to avoid traveling through and under avalanche paths with cliffs or rock outcroppings near the start zones.  

    Additional Discussion: Cornices are large and may be unstable. Some may release naturally. They can break further back than expected—give them a wide berth when traveling along ridgelines.

    (3/26/2025) Wet Slab on McGowan Pk in the Sawtooths. Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Last night's freeze and cooler temperatures today will slow the meltwater, making its way deeper into the snowpack. However, one night of below-freezing temperatures won't be enough to completely halt water movement. Wet slabs are unpredictable and can occur days after a warm-up, leaving us with some unknowns. But what we do know is that we have water pooling in buried weak layers 1-2.5 feet below the surface (Ethan highlights this in this video), and the slope-to-slope variability is high. Subtle differences in terrain orientation, wind, and cloud cover can make a huge difference. We haven't seen widespread evidence of wet slab avalanches, but that doesn't mean we are out of the woods yet, and natural or human-triggered avalanches aren't totally out of the question. To manage the uncertainty associated with wet slabs, you can build wide safety margins around your terrain choices and minimize time spent under large avalanche paths.

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