Avalanche forecast

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Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Generally safe avalanche conditions this morning throughout the region. However, by early this afternoon as temperatures rise above freezing expect heightened avalanche danger on southeast, south, southwest, and all terrain below treeline. By early afternoon the snow surface should start showing warning signs of instability in the form of wet, soft, ankle deep or higher snow. The observance of pinwheels and roller balls, especially adjacent to rocky terrain features, is another warning flag that the snow is becoming unstable and human triggered avalanches are becoming possible. You might want to consider getting on the snow early today while stability is good and be ready to exit steep avalanche terrain by early afternoon when the snow starts to show the aforementioned signs of instability.

Forecast presented by @onxbackcountry. onX Backcountry is a GPS navigation and mapping tool designed with your backcountry objectives in mind, equipped with Avalanche Forecast and Slope Angle layers, Offline Maps and more.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Wet loose avalanches will be possible this afternoon on steep slopes >35 degrees affected by sunshine and above freezing temperatures. That includes all south,southeast, southwest, west, and even lower elevation northwest facing terrain. When the surface snow is warmed by direct sun and warming temperatures it loses strength and becomes unstable. Signs that the snow surface is becoming unstable include the observance of roller balls on the snow surface, especially adjacent and below rocky terrain features, and wet mushy surface snow. Another warning sign that the surface snow is becoming unstable is sinking up to your boot tops or deeper when stepping onto the snow. It is time to get off of and out from under steep slopes when you start to notice these warning signs. The best time to be out on the slopes today will be in the morning while the snow is firm and therefore strong. By early afternoon recreationalists should be thinking about moving to slopes <35 degrees when the snow is showing the aforementioned  signs of instability. Wet loose avalanches are heavy and difficult to escape. A wet loose sluff is powerful enough to carry a rider into trees, gullies, and through/over rocky features. Think about the avalanche consequences before committing to that steep slope, especially as the snow surface starts to heat up and get soft, weak, and unstable.

    (2/11/2022)

    This sluff occurred  last Wednesday afternoon in the Western Wallowas on a west facing slope.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Temperatures are forecasted to go above freezing today and these warming temperatures will have a weakening effect on cornices which reside at wind exposed ridgelines on leeward facing terrain. While traveling along corniced ridgelines this afternoon, it is best to stay well back and away from the slope edges. Cornices can easily fail from the weight of a human and tend to break further back than you might expect.

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Most locations in our forecast area have one or more buried crusts and associated weak layers in the upper snowpack. It is possible today for melt water to percolate down to the uppermost crust/weak layer combinations thereby  weakening the tenuous bond that exists at that weak layer. If that were to happen this afternoon, the result could be a powerful and potentially dangerous wet slab avalanche. Keep this in mind this afternoon when recreating on avalanche terrain, especially at and below treeline. The gold standard for recreating on steep terrain during warm sunny weather is to get on the snow early in the morning and be off the snow in the afternoon when the snow starts showing warning signs of instability such as roller balls, pin wheels, and wet loose sluffs.

    (2/9/2022)

    Small wet loose avalanche occurred Wednesday afternoon in the Western Wallowas on a steep NW facing slope at 7000' . 

    Photo: TG

Regions covered