Avalanche forecast

Salmon River Mountains

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Although becoming less likely, it remains possible to trigger a persistent slab avalanche 1-2 feet deep. You're most likely to find these persistent slabs on shaded, protected slopes facing east through northwest, above 6500'. Approach these slopes with caution and adhere to good travel protocols, such as traveling one at a time after evaluating the snowpack. Small, dry-loose avalanches or snow sluffs are possible in steep or extreme terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    1.5-2.5 feet of snow earlier this week buried persistent weak layers (surface hoar and near-surface facets) from our prolonged high-pressure spell. You're most likely to trigger a persistent slab avalanche on shaded NW, N, and NE-facing slopes above 6,500 feet. Be heads up around steep, shaded slopes that have been protected from the sun and wind, like terrain features similar to those shown in the photo on the right. Persistent slab avalanches are becoming difficult to trigger. You're unlikely to receive the same feedback people found during and immediately after the storm (i.e., shooting cracks and whumpfing). The weight of a snowmachine is much more likely to affect buried weak layers than a person's weight.

    The most sensitive slopes are at mid-elevations near water sources (such as creeks and lakes). These could likely be in small terrain trap features that could catch people off guard, such as this terrain trap that claimed a life in early January in western Wyoming. Don't let your guard down when persistent slab avalanches are on the menu. Persistent slabs are notoriously difficult to manage and can behave in surprising ways. Your best tools to manage this problem are with safe travel. Maintain safe travel practices, such as spreading out, keeping eyes on your partners, exposing only one person at a time on steep slopes, developing a travel plan for the day, and re-grouping in safe spots away from terrain traps and runouts.

    (2/10/2026)

    Intentionally-triggered persistent slab avalanche. This failed on a layer of surface hoar two feet deep, which was buried 2/8.

    Photo: Payette Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

After over four weeks with no snow, the mountains picked up anywhere from 1-3 feet of new snow (1.5-2.5" SWE) earlier this week. All this new snow buried a variety of snow surfaces (crusts, near-surface facets, surface hoar) that were exposed to the prolonged drought. The storm came in warm and wet, with rain/snow lines up to 7,000 feet in some areas. Instability spiked Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, with numerous reports of avalanche activity and obvious signs of instability. The storm ended cold, depositing right-side up storm snow. We know there are persistent weak layers buried 1-2 feet deep. On Tuesday, George intentionally-triggered a persistent slab with his sled right above the road, just below 7,000 feet. We've received very little information since Monday. These lingering pockets of weak snow are becoming more difficult to trigger. The snowpack will get tested this weekend with lots of people traveling in the mountains. Always maintain safe travel practices with your group. Take a few minutes to dig into the snowpack to look for evidence of buried persistent weak layers. 

Our next weak layer will get buried today. Surface hoar, near-surface facets, and crusts have all formed within recent days. These will all get buried lightly today. This will be something to be paying attention to in the coming days, as we receive more snowfall early next week.

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