Avalanche forecast

Northern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

 

Dangerous avalanche conditions expected today throughout our forecast area, especially the Southern Wallowas. Expect to find sensitive windslabs on steep (steeper than 30 degrees) leeward facing  northwest, north, northeast, and east facing terrain at and above treeline. These sensitive windslabs, if triggered, could step down into deeper weak layers that exist in the snowpack, resulting in large and potentially destructive avalanches.

This forecast is sponsored by the Wallowa County Gamblers Snowmobile Club based out of Enterprise, OR.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Expect to see wind slabs on northwest, north, northeast, and east facing terrain near treeline, in the alpine, and at ridgelines today. Yesterday while touring in the Northern Elkhorns I was observing wind transported snow in the afternoon, and this was before it started snowing. Also, surface hoar has formed on many slopes throughout the forecast region, especially on north facing slopes at and below treeline. These new windslabs will be unstable on all terrain steeper than 30 degrees and especially unstable where they rest upon the now buried surface hoar layer.

    (12/7/2022)

    Surface Hoar is beautiful when laying on the snow surface but becomes a dangerous and persistent weak layer once buried.

    Photo: TG

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The persistent problem that we have been discussing in our avalanche advisories is still with us and will be for awhile. This problem will be intensified by the new load of snow we have received overnight. The weight of the new snow on the weak  layers of facets (sugar snow) and surface hoar buried deep in the snowpack could push the layers to the point of failure. The added weight of a human could be the trigger needed to set off a dangerous avalanche. It would be advisable to stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees today.

Avalanche Discussion

Please take some time to read the observations posted at our "Observations " page on this website. There you will find information about recent avalanches that have occurred in and around our forecast region. There is also great information about the persistent slab problem we have been discussing.Also, we hope to see you at our fundraiser in La Grande tomorrow night. Join us for the movie" Best of Boon dockers" , pizza, raffles, and prizes. More event details can be found on the Wallowa Avalanche Center website.Finally, be safe in the mountains this weekend.  Elevated avalanche danger and still a lot of rocks and trees to run into.

Regions covered