Avalanche forecast

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Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You're most likely to trigger a large avalanche where the wind formed stiff drifts or slabs near the snow surface. Cracks are a clear sign that you've found a sensitive slab. You can reduce your risk by seeking out softer snow that's more sheltered from the wind. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    On Tuesday, skiers triggered wind slab avalanches in the northern and southern Sawtooths while entering steep, exposed terrain. 

    Yesterday, the wind shifted to the WNW and NW, causing cornice failure and small natural and human-triggered avalanches along wind-exposed ridgelines. Although active wind loading should subside, triggering one of these slabs remains possible today in upper and some middle elevation locations. Some slabs overlie crusts and/or thin layers of weak, faceted snow, where they could be easily triggered and break wider than expected. 

    • Look for shooting cracks, smooth dunes, textured snow surfaces, or cornices. 
    • Feel for changing surface conditions as you enter more wind-exposed terrain. Wind slabs will feel firmer than snow in sheltered locations. 

    You can reduce your odds of triggering a wind slab by moving to lower-angle terrain sheltered from the wind.

    Additional Discussion: Natural and human-triggered loose snow avalanches are possible in steep terrain. Although likely to be small, these slides can sweep you off your feet or trigger larger slab avalanches as they move downslope.

Avalanche Discussion

Snowfall has ended, but yesterday's moderate WNW and NW winds continued to build sensitive drifts in wind-exposed terrain. Down drainage winds may have formed small slabs in lower-elevation terrain. These commonly form along moraines and at the mouths of main drainages. If the sun makes a prolonged appearance, expect some small wet loose avalanches on very steep, rocky slopes that face the sun.

Regions covered