Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A week of uneventful weather combined with a stout surface rain crust at most elevations is contributing to low danger at treeline and below.  A weak weather system over the next 48 hours will bring light precip (2-3" snow)  and light SW winds to most locations above 5,000'. Expect dust on crust conditions and the possibility of dry loose slides on slopes > 35 degrees. Shallow pockets of reactive wind slab may be encountered on > 35 degree slopes on N-E aspects below ridgeline and cross-loaded terrain features mid-slope. We continue to observe weak persistent grain types in our snowpack. At this time the likelihood of triggering an avalanche on these weak layers is low but the consequences of such an avalanche could be high.  Conservative terrain selection is warranted, where and if, the surface crust is penetrated. This is especially relevant for snowmobilers.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    A stout supportable rain crust about 4" thick exists at all aspects and elevations. The incoming storm will likely bring 2-3" of new snow to the Blues over the next 48 hours. The new snow will not bond well to this stiff crust and will slide easily. This presents us with a potential for shallow (2-4") loose dry avalanches on slopes >35 degrees. While these slides are unlikely to be enough to bury a person, they could potential cause a slide for life situation. Be careful on slopes >35 degrees where a potential slide could cheese grate you through the trees or pound you into rocks. 

Avalanche Discussion

We are still seeing the Solstice Rain Crust and associated facets in our snow pits and this layer still lingers close enough to the surface to be affected by the weight of a recreationalist where and when you are able to penetrate the stout rain crust from last week. The resulting avalanche would be large and destructive. While the weight of most skiers and snowboarders will not be significant enough to penetrate the rain crust, snowmobilers on the other hand, may be able to bog down and impact persistent weak layers buried 2-3 feet down.  If riders find themselves penetrating the rain crust and impacting deeper layers in the snowpack, then terrain choices should become more conservative by dropping your slope angles below 35 degrees. 

Regions covered