Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Heavy snowfall will overload a weak snowpack. Up to 18 inches of snow have fallen in the last 24 hours and another 9-13 inches are expected today. Large natural and human-triggered avalanches are almost certain. Avoid avalanche terrain and terrain exposed to hazard from above. Avalanches may be triggered remotely—from gentler terrain above, below, and to the sides of steep slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Certain
    Size
    2–3

    Today's storm will build slabs that overwhelm exceptionally weak faceted snow and crusts. Rapidly settling storm snow will form slabs on all slopes and at all elevations.  No avalanche terrain is safe—including more sheltered terrain at lower elevations. Today, you could easily trigger an avalanche from the base of a road cut that is large enough to bury you.

    Large terrain and areas with blowing and drifting snow are even more hazardous. In these areas, very large avalanches may occur. This slide on Galena Peak last year (photo) is an example of what we might expect. I'm sure numerous large avalanches occurred overnight and I expect more today.

    Our only option today is to avoid avalanche terrain. This means staying well away from steep slopes including flat areas like trails and roads threatened by steeper terrain from above.

Avalanche Discussion

We're in the middle of an intense storm. Avalanche danger will spike today as strong wind combines with snowfall rates that reach 3" of snow per hour. All of this load is landing on an exceptionally weak snowpack. If you're just tuning in for the season, read Ben's Early Season Snowpack Summary to catch up. The weak layers we're dealing with were so touchy that they produced large avalanches earlier this week in areas with less than 10" of new snow. By the end of today, storm totals will reach over 2 feet.  Simply put, today's the day to stay out of the way.

Regions covered