Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

With significant wind and snow over the past 72 hours, the chances of triggering an avalanche today remain likely.  The most dangerous avalanche conditions will be found near and above the treeline where the winds have packed the snow into a dense slab.  Safe travel techniques, limiting exposure, and conservative terrain selection will remain essential.  

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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The winds have begun to taper off, but the wind slab problem remains. If you find signs of wind slabs, such as dune-like formations, hard drum-like snow, and cornices then you are staring at a wind slab.  It's likely that a human could trigger a large avalanche today.  Winds have primarily been blowing out of the SW-S-SE, which has loaded slopes facing NW-NE.  

    (3/9/2023)

    This natural wind slab avalanche likely released early Thursday morning. The 2" of new snow, along with light density snow from storms earlier in the week, was being easily transported by moderate southerly winds onto north-facing terrain.

    Photo: M. Hatch

  • Storm Slabs

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

    The snow that fell Thursday night into Friday was heavier than the snow earlier in the storm creating an upside-down effect.  The denser snow above the lighter snow translates into a storm slab, which will need another day or so to increase in strength.  If you find this "upside down" snow, use caution on slopes >30 degrees.  

Avalanche Discussion

Northern Wallowas:  Since Thursday the Aneroid lake snotel picked up 0.9" of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE), which translates to about 1' of snow.  The snow that fell Thursday night into Friday was heavier than the snow earlier in the storm creating an upside-down effect.  The denser snow above the lighter snow translates into a storm slab, which will need another day or so to increase in strength.  If you find this "upside down" snow, use caution on slopes >30 degrees.  

Southern Wallowas:  The Schneider Meadows snotel picked up 1.6" of SWE since Thursday, which likely translates to over 2' of snow above 7,000'.  A large avalanche was reported by one of our professional observers yesterday on the SE face of Cornucopia Peak around 7,000'.  

Elkhorns:  In the Northern Elkhorns 25" of snow has fallen in the past 72 hours, 17" in the past 24 hours and 7" overnight.  That's a lot of new snow, accompanied by moderate to strong winds, which has produced some natural avalanche activity, as reported by WAC forecaster Michael Hatch on Thursday.  

Blues: In the Blues 1.2" of SWE was measured at the High Ridge snotel near Tollgate since Thursday.  

Cornices: Erratic wind loading over the past 72 hours has produced some very erratic loading patterns.  Cornice growth has increased dramatically.  I would recommend extreme caution as these beasts can cut loose unexpectedly.  Cornices typically connect to terrain features much further back than you might expect.  As we honor the loss of Kip Rand from the cornice he cut loose in 2017, it's a reminder to treat cornices with respect.  

Regions covered