Avalanche forecast

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Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A small storm mixed with moderate NW winds has created sensitive, wind drifts in exposed terrain. You can significantly reduce risk by steering clear of recently wind-affected snow. While these slides can be small, they can add big consequences on slopes ending with cliffs, trees, and terrain traps.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    What is it? Overnight a storm brought 2-4 inches of lightweight snow, accompanied by moderate winds from the NW.  It is possible to trigger small avalanches in wind-drifted snow across much of the exposed elevations. 

    Where is it? Look for wind-affected snow near ridgelines, prominent features, and on the sides of gullies or chutes. Northwest winds transported snow onto several crusts with facets that formed on south-facing slopes. The wind-drifted snow adds more weight to these layers, stressing them.

    How can you recognize it? Cracks shooting out from your skis or sled are an obvious sign of instability. Watch for drifts, dunes, and ripples on the snow surface. Wind slabs can have a smooth, chalky appearance and feel and sound hollow, like a drum. Wind-deposited snow will be stiffer and keep your skis or snowmobile on or closer to the surface.       

    How can you manage it? The easy move is to avoid wind-loaded slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. Hard slab avalanches can behave unpredictably, breaking above skiers and riders.Slabs overlaying weak snow can break well above you on the slope and may break wider than you expect.

    (2/8/2023) Last week, Chris found sensitive wind slabs in the neighboring zone. A ski cut released this wind slab that broke 40' wide and a foot thick. Nearby wind slabs produced shooting cracks. E, 8500'.

Avalanche Discussion

A STORM BRINGS CHANGE

A small storm brought 2-4 inches of lightweight snow, accompanied by moderate NW winds. New snow likely created wind drifts in exposed middle and upper elevations. Most avalanches you can encounter today will be on the smaller side (example). While triggered slides can be small, they can pack a punch if they carry you through trees, cliffs, gullies, and other terrain traps. Several weak snow layers exist in the snowpack's upper 1.5-2.5 feet.

Newer weak layers buried in the upper foot of the snowpack generally lack the overlying slab necessary to produce avalanches. You may find slabs over these weak layers in terrain where the wind has been transporting snow. Field observations and small triggered slides in neighboring zones indicate that these layers can produce avalanches when loaded with the right slab. Look for these along ridgelines and near mid-slope terrain features like ribs and gullies. You are most likely to encounter these small avalanches in terrain steeper than about 35 degrees, where the wind has been building slabs on top of these weak layers. 

Regions covered