Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Isolated small pockets of shallow wind-drifted new snow sitting above a firm crust could be sensitive today along upper-elevation exposed ridgelines.  Avoid wind-loaded terrain where even a small avalanche could carry you over consequential terrain.  

This forecast is sponsored by The Trailhead- Baker City.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Above 5,000' 2-4" of new snow fell in the mountains late yesterday after the rain turned to snow.  Winds were mostly out of the Southwest but became a bit shifty overnight with some stronger gusts.  If you travel into upper elevations today, look for evidence of wind loading in exposed terrain.  Good visual clues will be rippled textured snow, deeper pillows just below ridgelines, and fresh cornice development.   Look for cracking in the new snow.  You can use small inconsequential test slopes to see how reactive wind-loaded pockets may be.  The warm temperatures over the last few days developed a crust on which these wind-loaded pockets of snow could run.   Avoid wind-loaded steeper terrain.  

    (2/19/2024)

    Textured snow are a good indication of wind slab development

    Photo: Wallowa Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Today will be a day of weather and snowpack transition as temperatures and snow levels continue to drop and 1-4" of new snow is possible.  Be observant in your travels.  Evaluate how well this new snow has bonded to the old snow surface.  Use hand pits to look for slab development and see how easily it might slip off of the most recent melt-freeze crust.  Ride or ski over small inconsequential test slopes to test for reactivity.  If you are finding stiffer slabs of snow are reactive on a crust, avoid riding on terrain steeper than 30 degrees. 

Throughout Monday and Tuesday, very warm temperatures and the strong effects of the sun melted surface snow and pooled water at various depths in the upper snowpack.  If you are traveling in the mountains today, take the time to dig down to see where this water has pooled.  As temperatures continue to drop, this wetter snow should lock up if it hasn't already happened.  At lower elevations, if you find areas where the new snow covers wet saturated snow that is cohesionless, avoid venturing into steeper terrain- especially terrain traps such as creekbeds and gullies.  

Significant snowfall is expected from this afternoon through Saturday.  The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Blue Mountains for snow totaling 10-20 inches.  Expect an increase in avalanche danger as we move into this evening through the weekend.  

Cornices have grown dangerously large and warmer temperatures weakened them.  They can break further back than you think.   Give cornices a wide berth, and use clues along the ridgelines such as trees and rocks to make sure you have solid ground below your feet or machine.  

No danger rating has been issued for the lowest elevation band in the Blues (3000'-4000') due to the lack of snow in that zone. If we receive significant low elevation snow we will begin forecasting for that zone again. If you are out in the mountains, add value to your avalanche forecast by submitting observations here.    

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