Avalanche forecast

Avalanche forecast

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Wet loose avalanches are possible in the upper 1-2 feet of the snowpack. The Sun along with a lack of freezing temps for the past week will increase the likelihood of Natural and human-triggered wet-loose avalanches. Avoid slopes steeper than 35 degrees, especially E, SE, S, SW, and W aspects that are receiving direct sun. Shallow wind slabs, 2-6" deep are possible near ridgetops from 2-3" of new snow that fell with gusty North winds on Monday afternoon above 6,000 feet.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Warm temps have been consistent over the last 6 days, and have lacked an overnight freeze. Yesterday afternoon, temps dropped and the mountains picked up 2-3 inches of fresh snow on top of an un-frozen upper snowpack...The snowpack is saturated in the upper foot on North aspects, and on solar aspects, the saturation is about 1 1/2 feet below the surface. 

    Steep slopes on all aspects should be approached with caution, if not avoided. The likelihood of triggering a wet loose avalanche will increase through the day as the Sun adds impact to the snow surface and will likely produce some small natural wet loose avalanches. Avoid traveling on or under steep slopes that are in direct sun. 

    It is going to take a few nights to get the snowpack to re-freeze.

    (3/28/2022)

    A lack of freeze for the last 6 days has left the upper snowpack wet.

    Photo: GH

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    2-3 inches of new snow fell yesterday afternoon under NNW winds that gusted into the 20 mph range. Small wind slabs have likely formed on the surface. These slabs should be small, 2-6 inches thick (d1), and isolated to leeward terrain (Southern aspects mainly). If you are seeing red flags like cracking, choose another, safer route.

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday's  Advisory is sponsored by Franklin Building Supply just South of McCall on highway 55...Thank You for supporting Payette Avalanche Forecasting!

Our snowpack is wet, and before yesterday's new 2-3 inches of snow, the surface was visibly dirty. Temperatures have been warm and sustained above freezing in the upper elevations for almost a solid week, this has left the upper 1-2 feet of the snowpack wet, loose, and not frozen at all.  Touring the Northern portion of the advisory area on Monday we did see a lot of older wet-loose avalanche activity, but no big wet slab avalanches. It appears that the rain crust that formed on March 1st has helped retain the meltwater in the upper snowpack. 

Nighttime temps are forecasted to start to freeze the snowpack, but it will take multiple nights to get the snowpack frozen solid. With a light freeze overnight and sunny skies, the likelihood of wet loose avalanches will increase as the day progresses. 

Winds were gusting out of the North yesterday as the storm came in and cooled the snow surface, creating a crust on the surface as new snow fell. Small shallow Wind slabs are possible in the upper elevations. 

 

***We will issue our last advisory for the season on Saturday, April 9th, 2022