Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Wet snow avalanches are likely on all aspects and elevations.  Avoid traveling in or under avalanche terrain.  If you go out into the rain today stick to slopes less then 30 degrees. 

This forecast is sponsored by La Grande Sno-Drifters Snowmobile Club

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

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

    You will certainly see plenty of wet loose avalanches today as the rain reaches the mountains and the temperatures increase.  However, wet slab avalanches could occur as the rain saturated deeper down into the snowpack. 

    The Blues have been warm and have received over 3.5" of water in the past week, and another 1.3" is expected today.  However, this has not been in the form of snow but instead of rain.  The large amount of rain and warm temperatures will make wet slab avalanches likely.   Even small wet avalanches could carry you into terrain traps, over cliff bands, or into trees. 

    Give the mountains time to deal with this big change. Avoid areas where avalanches can start, run, and stop particularly in steep terrain.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Wet avalanches can step down into older snow layers as water moves down into the snowpack. 

    Recent snowpack tests on Wednesday from forecaster Nick Burks show his whole column failing on these facets that sit above a very hard icy bed surface.  Slab + Weak Layer + Bed Surface= the potential to trigger an avalanche.   Check out his observation here. 

    (1/24/2024)

    This Compression Test failed in weak snow just above a Knife hard crust on the 19th tap. There was a big pop and drop.

    Photo: Nick Burks

Avalanche Discussion

Freezing levels will be above ridgeline elevation in the Blues today through Tuesday.  Wet avalanches will become very likely with increasing temperatures and rain.  It will not be out of the question for a wet avalanche to add enough weight to the snowpack and trigger a deeper more destructive avalanche on buried persistent weak layers.  

Use safe travel protocols, avoid riding above terrain traps, and don't hang out below avalanche runout zones. 

We appreciate all of the observations that have been coming into the WAC from all of our zones.  It truly adds value to your forecast.  Keep 'em coming! Submit your obs here. 

 

 

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