Avalanche forecast

Avalanche forecast

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago.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

Highlights

Winds and new snow out of the South/ Southwest will continue over the next few days, and have gusted into the 20 plus MPH range and have likely loaded leeward terrain creating sensitive wind slabs.

If you are seeing red flags like shooting cracks or hearing hollow sounds or loud whoomphing noises, find another route.

Be cautious in and around steep slopes...Avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees that have been loaded or cross-loaded by the wind.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

          Weather FX Granite 7,700 FT                                                                     Today Snow showers. Areas of blowing snow. High near 24. Windy, with a south southwest wind 24 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.   Tonight Snow showers. Areas of blowing snow before 11pm. Low around 12. Wind chill values between zero and 5. Breezy, with a southwest wind 17 to 22 mph decreasing to 9 to 14 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.  

    It doesn't take but a moderate wind (17-25 Mph) to move snow and form wind slabs on the surface of the snow. Watch for signs of sculpting and drifting or pillows.

    If you are seeing red flags like shooting cracks or hearing hollow sounds or loud whoomphing noises, find another route.

    Gusty South Winds at Granite Weather Station

Avalanche Discussion

It has warmed up and is forecasted to snow and blow out of the South/South-west over the next few days.  While we know that the winds are forming slabs on the surface in leeward terrain, the formation of denser snow on the surface has happened as the temps have warmed. In areas that were protected from the wind, a storm slab has likely formed (denser snow near the surface).

Be suspect of slopes steeper than 30 degrees, and use good travel protocols like exposing only 1 person at a time to avalanche terrain.

Our snowpack is coming along nicely and is pretty right-side up. Our persistent problem, Facets, and crusts that are the make-up of our early Oct-early December snowpack are slowly rounding and getting stronger and getting buried deeper.  Our test results have been good and strong on the lower old snow, and moderate failures that lack propagation in the upper snowpack.

Coverage for over-snow travel is getting better, but be constantly cautious of hitting wood and rocks. Be careful and patient, it is getting deeper every day.