Avalanche forecast

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You're most likely to trigger a slab avalanche in areas where recent wind and snow have formed drifts and slabs at upper elevations. While not likely, you may be able to trigger a larger avalanche on shadier slopes that face away from the afternoon sun.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent snow and strong SW-W winds are likely to have built drifts and slabs at upper elevations. Look for this problem near and just below exposed ridgelines and along cross-loaded mid-slope gullies. Recent cornice growth, pillows, and dunes are all clues that wind was at work moving snow.  Cracking and collapsing are sure indications that you've found a sensitive slab. You can reduce your odds of triggering a wind slab by sticking to more wind-sheltered slopes with soft powder at the surface. 

    Additional Discussion: If the skies clear this afternoon, wet loose avalanches could occur on slopes facing the sun. These are most likely in very steep, rocky, and wind-sheltered terrain. They will begin small but may quickly gain mass and speed as they move downhill over slick crusts. Roller balls or pinwheels are clues that the snow surface is heating up, and loose avalanches may follow. 

     

    (3/7/2026) Remnants of an old slab avalanche out 4th of July Creek that's been mostly refilled due to recent wind loading.

    Photo: Tyler, Jorgenson

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2

    Although unlikely, you could trigger a 2-3 ft thick persistent slab avalanche on buried weak layers (sugary facets, surface hoar, and crust + facet combinations). This problem is worst on middle and upper elevation slopes facing NW-N-NE-E. 

    While the odds are low, the consequences of triggering one of these dense, thick slabs are severe. Don't expect obvious signs of instability. In low probability/high consequence situations like this, there's a good chance the first sign of instability you'll see is the avalanche you trigger. Tracks on a slope don't mean it's safe. Avalanches can be triggered by the second, third, or fourth rider on a slope. 

    Persistent slabs can fail unpredictably and break wider and higher on slopes than you might expect. Avoiding avalanche terrain is the only surefire way to manage this problem. Short of that, you can reduce your risk by avoiding large avalanche paths and those with ugly consequences if you are caught in a slide.

Avalanche Discussion

Today will be a lull in what's been a so-far underperforming storm. Any lingering snowfall should diminish this morning, bringing snow totals to 7-12" since Wednesday night. Snow was accompanied by moderate to strong winds. Yesterday, we received reports of blowing and drifting snow in the Sawtooths and observed thin wind slab formation along Titus Ridge near Galena Summit. Notably, both the smaller wind slab and the larger, but less likely, persistent slab problems are most likely on shadier slopes that face away from the afternoon sun.

Regions covered