Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

New snow overnight accompanied by winds strong enough to transport snow from one place to another means we should see more windslab formation today, especially  at ridgelines on north, northeast, and east facing terrain. Cautious route finding and conservative decision making will be essential for those who want to minimize the risk of triggering an avalanche on steep leeward terrain near ridgelines and high points. Take the time to assess snow stability today before venturing out onto wind loaded terrain steeper than 30 degrees.

 

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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Last night's new snow accompanied by moderate south, southwest, and west winds  will increase the snow load on existing windslabs on north, northeast, and east facing slopes, increasing the likelihood for a human triggered avalanche on steep windloaded terrain, particularly near ridgelines. Assess conditions carefully today if you are considering traveling through or recreating upon steep slopes especially near ridgelines. 🚩Windslabs have a smooth, rounded, pillow or domelike shape and can be found on the leeward side of ridges and ribs. 🚩Wind transported snow has a dense feel to it.🚩 If the slab is dense or firm enough to support the weight of a human, it can sound hollow or drumlike while traveling across it. 🚩Shooting cracks projecting out in front of skis or boards while traveling through windloaded terrain is a bulls eye red flag that the snow you are moving through is unstable and could avalanche. If we start observing any of these red flags, especially   🚩recent avalanches, in areas near or similar to the area we are traveling in,  it is time we consider recreating on lower angle slopes less than 30 degrees in steepness. Today heightened avalanche danger exists on leeward facing terrain steeper than 30 degrees at and near ridgelines. To minimize the risk of triggering an avalanche today it will be important for us to identify features of concern like smooth domelike features, and evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Take the time to dig down into the snow to see how well the new windslab is bonding to the old surface it rests upon. Another thing you can do to evaluate the snow stability is jump on a small inconsequential test slope to see how the snow responds. If you observe shooting cracks, avalanching, collapsing, or snowpit propagation, consider recreating on low angle terrain less than 30 degrees in steepness. Always be wary of steep terrain that has been recently wind loaded.

    (3/4/2023)

    The smooth rounded shape of a "wind pillow". A red flag that this leeward facing slope is wind loaded.

    Photo: TG

  • Loose Dry

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

    The new snow that was deposited by last night's storm will be poorly bonded to firm snow surfaces existing at lower elevations today. On slopes steeper than 35 degrees it will be possible to trigger loose dry avalanches. Although likelihood of getting buried by a small loose dry avalanche will be low, these fast moving avalanches have the potential to carry a recreationalist into trees, rocks, gullies, and cliff bands. Consider the consequences of getting caught in an avalanche before committing to the steep terrain you are considering.

    (3/3/2023)

    Loose dry avalanche I triggered today on a small, steep, east facing test slope at 7300' in the Northern Elkhorns. I also observed a small skier triggered loose dry avalanche on a steep northeast facing slope at 8400' just below the ridgeline.

    Photo: TG

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday I had the opportunity to do some ski touring in the Blues near Spout Springs. There was plenty of evidence that Thursday's storm was accompanied by substantial winds and snow. That said, I observed no noteworthy signs of instability at the snow surface and there was no instability observed while ski cutting small inconsequential test slopes. Also, I dug two snowpits above 5000' . One snowpit was on a west aspect, the other on an east aspect. I performed stability tests in both snowpits and observed fair stability. My columns showed the weakest layers to be in the upper 12" of the snowpack. No propagation was observed and Compression Test shears were resistant but planar or progressive compression. It is worth mentioning that down 30" from the snow surface in the west snowpit, I did observe a couple of crust facet combination layers that still exist. These persistent weak layers continue to gain strength and are unreactive in snowpit stability tests. 

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