Avalanche forecast

Avalanche forecast

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Dry loose avalanches in the upper foot of the snowpack are possible on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Use caution in steep terrain and exposed terrain like cliffs and near gullies and paths where debris can concentrate. 

Sensitive wind slabs 2-8 inches thick near ridgelines, leeward, and exposed terrain are also possible. Watch for red flags and signs of drifting on the snow surface and use caution in and around cornices.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    The cold temps that we have been experiencing from Arctic air have helped aid in the drier looser snow in the upper foot of the snowpack.  This can be an issue in steep (35-55 degree) terrain where there is exposure to terrain traps like gullies and cliffs. You could get enough snow moving with you on your ascent or descent to push you into bad places. On most slopes, you are going to not have an issue, and you will enjoy the dry loose snow that you can likely hear the surface hoar crystals bouncing around on the surface.

    Sunday we got a report of a sizeable (D2-D3) dry-loose avalanche triggered by a snowmobile near Goose Lake, North of McCall in this observation submitted by the public.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–2

    Winds have been out of the ENE most recently and have formed some fresh slabs in new locations. Time has likely aided in stabilizing most slabs by now, but use caution above 7,000 feet in exposed and leeward terrain. Steep Sothern aspects may be the most likely spot to find a sensitive wind slab, but use caution and judgment as local terrain features in your location can influence and develop sensitive slabs in odd areas you might not expect, and these slabs could have formed above weak faceted snow and or Sun crusts and not be bonded well.

    (1/30/2023)

    This wind slab was not very reactive here. I did not witness cracks shooting out past my skis.

Avalanche Discussion

This forecast is sponsored by Franklin Building Supply on Highway 55, just South of McCall. Thank You for supporting the Payette Avalanche Center!

The hoar on the snow surface as well as facets that have grown under arctic air influence this past week may be linked to our future problems? Our snowpack is showing strength for the most part. The upper 2 feet of the snowpack is showing some less-than-perfect structure like facets, pieces of small 2-4 mm rounding surface hoar, and crusts. Our stability tests in compression have shown failures in the upper 1-2 feet of the snowpack in the easy to moderate range but these failures are not propagating in extended column tests.  Our last report of a human-triggered avalanche was on Sunday, January 29th in the upper foot, dry loose portion of the snowpack. Warming temps should help consolidate the upper snowpack, and calm down our loose avalanche problem over the next couple of days.