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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger will rise through the day as around 5 inches of new snow with winds out of the South-Southwest gusting upwards of 30 mph will form fresh wind slabs in leeward terrain that may be sensitive to the weight of a person.

Below 7,000 feet the chance of triggering a wet loose avalanche in steep terrain will remain as light rain and a lack of a solid freeze challenge lower-elevation snow in steep terrain.

Use cautious travel protocols on all slopes steeper than 30 degrees, and avoid wind-loaded terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    3-5 inches of snow is expected Saturday above 5,500 feet along with moderate South-Southwest winds gusting into the 30 mph range.  Fresh wind slabs will be forming in leeward terrain. These slabs could grow as thick as 10 inches by Saturday evening when winds are forecasted to sustain in the moderate range through the evening gusting into the 30 mph range through the night. 

    Watch for signs of loading and drifting, and avoid wind-loaded terrain, especially near ridgelines and cornices that may be sensitive to the weight of a person.

  • Loose Wet

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

    Warm temps over the last few days along with the Sun have saturated our snowpack below the surface.  It will take a few days of cooler temps to get a solid freeze of the snowpack to the ground. Friday, only the upper 3-4" of the snowpack had refrozen overnight.

    Light rain up to 5500' along with a lack of a solid overnight re-freeze will keep the wet loose possibility around on slopes steeper than 35 degrees below 6,000 feet.

    If you are seeing rollerballs or pinwheels on the snow surface, or recent avalanches, find another lower angle slope to travel.

    (3/22/2024)

    Lone Tree 6993' SE aspect: The upper frozen, 3-4" crust was supportable but collapsed in places on solar aspects at noon. Below the crust, the snow was saturated and not frozen to the ground.

Avalanche Discussion

The warm temps over the last week have left our snowpack in a spring state. Dust on the surface of the snowpack was visible Friday and wet unfrozen snow below the surface crust of only 3-4 inches extends deep, to the ground in some locations. The forecasted temps through the weekend and into next week look just cold enough to freeze the upper 3-6" overnight and likely not enough to freeze the whole snowpack to the ground. 

Use good travel protocols in steep terrain as we have had observations this past week of surface hoar on the surface and bonding of new snow may be challenged in places. If you are seeing red flags, especially recent avalanches and or cracking and collapsing, find an easier, lower-angle route. Keep eyes on your partners from a safe location out of avalanche terrain.

Today's advisory is sponsored by Tamarack Resort.

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