Avalanche forecast

Northern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

It will be likely to trigger small to large slabs of new snow up to 2' thick today near and above treeline, especially in wind loaded terrain.  It remains possible to trigger a very large avalanche on several persistent weak layers buried deeper in the snowpack. If you see signs of instability such as recent avalanches, collapsing of the new snow, wind drifted snow, or cracking in the new snow, move to terrain less than 30 degrees.  

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Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Yesterday, the weather station at Schneider meadows picked up between 5-6" of new snow with a snow water equivalent of .8".   Recent observations indicate there was around 10" of new snow that fell around 6,000'.  The Western Wallowas received 4" of new snow with around .4" of snow water equivalent at the Taylor Green weather station, with likely more at higher elevations. Temperatures rose throughout the day, creating an "upside-down" storm slab instability.  There is heavier snow lying above lighter snow, making it potentially more reactive.  Be on the lookout for natural avalanche activity as you travel through the mountains.  Look for signs of instability in the upper snowpack such collapsing of this new storm snow and shooting cracks- especially where the wind has deposited new snow into thicker, stiffer slabs.  These are tell-tale signs of storm snow instabilities and should clue you in to lowering your slope angles to less than 30 degrees and avoid riding above terrain traps such as gullies, cliffs, and dense trees.  

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3

    In the last week, numerous avalanches have been triggered (directly and remotely) by people on boards and machines in the Southern Wallowas, many of which have been identified as failing on a layer of buried surface hoar and/or a temperatures crust.   With the added weight of the recent storm, these avalanches will be larger than in the past week and demand respect.  Avoid slopes greater than 30 degrees, avoid traveling underneath overhead avalanche paths, and avoid riding above terrain traps to reduce your chances of being caught in an avalanche.   Always use safe travel protocols such as only committing one rider at a time to any slope and regrouping in safe locations out of avalanche runout zones.  

    (1/12/2023)

    The crown was approximately 20 inches deep. D1.5-2, West facing slope at 5,800 ft.

Avalanche Discussion

It's a jungle out there.  Not only do we have the aforementioned avalanche problems, but the deep persistent slab is still a potential problem.  A small to large avalanche within the new snow from the last week or a slab failing on the Christmas Rain Crust now buried up to 4' deep could trigger a much larger and much more destructive avalanche failing on weak faceted snow near the ground.  An avalanche of this magnitude would likely be unsurvivable.  Conservative terrain selection remains critical today.   Keep your slope angles low, watch your riding partners, and avoid even small avalanche paths.  At lower elevations, where warmer temperatures warmed the snowpack yesterday, small wet loose avalanches are also possible.   Check out the recent observations from the last two days in the southern wallowas here and here.  

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