Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Wet snow avalanches are still possible as the Blues have yet to see a hard freeze.  This avalanche problem is relevant on all aspects and elevations on slopes >30 degrees.  If you are seeing the upper snowpack wet and lacking cohesion, move to terrain less than 30 degrees, avoid being above terrain traps, and don't travel underneath avalanche runout zones.  

This forecast is sponsored by Eagle Cap Mountain Guides.  

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    We still have yet to see a solid freeze in the Blues, in over 72 hours.  The snowpack has most likely had the chance to absorb the rain from a couple of days ago, but water percolating deeper into the snowpack can still produce wet avalanche issues.  If you are sinking to your boot tops in wet snow, avoiding avalanche terrain is critical.  

    Pinwheels and Rollerballs from warming temperatures or rain on snow events are telltale signs of the wet loose avalanche problem. 

    Photo: Gallatin NF Avalanche Center

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3

    With the added weight of 1" of precipitation on our current snowpack structure, it remains possible to trigger a deep persistent slab- especially in areas that hold a shallower snowpack.  This avalanche problem type is unpredictable and most likely unsurvivable.  You will likely not see clues to this monster from the snowpack surface, but instead must rely on looking at the structure of the snowpack all the way to the ground!  Where there is a dense slab of snow overlying weak sugar snow near the ground, this avalanche problem remains possible.  The Christmas rain crust is buried around 1.5-3' from the surface in many locations and is most sensitive where weak sugar snow surrounds it or is sandwiched between it.  An avalanche failing on this weak layer could potentially step down into the very weak snow near the ground.  Conservative terrain selection remains critical.  Stick to slopes less than 30 degrees to decrease your chances of triggering one of these monsters

Avalanche Discussion

Rain-on-snow events destabilize the snowpack in the short term.  While they can stabilize the snowpack once frozen, temperatures need to drop back down below freezing for that to happen.  Reactive upper snowpack instabilities will remain likely today, and conservative terrain selection will remain critical.  Stick to terrain less than 30 degrees to decrease your chances of getting caught in an avalanche. 

The Blue Mountains forecast zone hasn't had any observations in a while, so if you are out there, we would greatly appreciate hearing about what you are seeing.  Submit an observation, photo, or video here. 

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