Avalanche forecast

Banner Summit

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

New snow and wind have formed touchy slabs at middle and upper elevations. To avoid triggering an avalanche, use shooting cracks and "upside down" feeling snow as indicators to move to lower angle terrain or locations with less new snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Overnight winds coupled with 10+ inches of snowfall have formed touchy wind slabs up to 2 feet thick on leeward slopes. Expect to find these slabs in open terrain, near ridgelines, and in cross-loaded gullies at middle and upper elevations, primarily on NW, N, NE, E, and SE slopes. Cracks shooting out from your sled or boards are a clear sign you've found a slab and should dial back your terrain choices to play it safe. Natural loose snow sluffs or cornice fall could also trigger slab avalanches; minimize the time you spend in the runouts of large avalanche paths. On some slopes, crusts and / or weak snow exist beneath the new snow meaning that avalanches could be easy to trigger and may break wider than you expect.

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Dense, damp storm snow formed slabs on most slopes sheltered from the wind. These avalanches could be big enough to catch, carry, and injure people. Storm slab avalanches are most likely to release where it's "steepest and deepest." On some slopes, crusts and / or weak snow exist beneath the new snow meaning that avalanches could be easy to trigger and may break wider than you expect. Shooting cracks and "upside down" feeling snow are clear indicators that you've found storm slabs. Pivoting to lower-angle terrain or locations with less storm snow is your best bet to avoid triggering one of these avalanches today.

Avalanche Discussion

New snow problems are the primary concern in the Banner zone. If the skies clear more than forecast, be on the lookout for wet loose avalanches on steeper slopes facing the sun. These may have the potential to trigger larger storm or wind slab avalanches.

Regions covered