Avalanche forecast

Salmon River Mountains

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Triggering an avalanche up to one foot deep is possible above 6500' today. Expect rising avalanche danger as the day progresses. Continue to practice safe backcountry travel habits, avoid wind-loaded slopes & give terrain near or under cornices a wide buffer.  If you are seeing cracks or drifts of snow, find another lower-angle slope.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New snow is high-density (heavier) and will be accompanied by strong W/SW winds of 30+ mph. You can expect to find wind slabs this afternoon up to 4-6 inches thick on North and east-facing slopes above 6,500 feet. Wind slabs will be most sensitive just below corniced ridgelines. Look for clues of wind-affected snow, such as drifts, dunes, pillows, and freshly built cornices. Watch for signs of instability, such as shooting cracks in your skis, board, or sled. If you're observing these signs, find another aspect away from wind-drifted snow.

    Pay attention to how well the new snow has bonded to the underlying crusts before committing to steep slopes. Strong winds and local terrain features can alter the prevailing wind direction. Pay attention to cross-loading and wind-loading on unsuspecting slopes.

Avalanche Discussion

Heads-up conditions are developing with more snow and rain through the day and tonight, and cooler temps tonight and tomorrow. Keep up safe travel protocols like 1 at a time on slopes steeper than 30 degrees, and avoid wind-loaded terrain. Other things to think of are:

  • Snow may still be wet, even with cooler conditions. Last evening boded well for a hard surface refreeze. However, many days of partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures generally keep wet, unsupportable snow from refreezing very well.
  • Wet-loose avalanches should still be on your radar. Warm temperatures and mixed precipitation may loosen up refrozen snow surfaces and make triggering small wet avalanches possible, especially at upper elevations. Rocky terrain, sheltered from the wind, will heat up quickly if the cloud cover breaks for extended periods. Move to lower-angle terrain or cooler northern aspects when the top few inches of snow become wet and slushy, or when rollerballs signal deteriorating stability. 
  • Cornices. Nobody likes these. They can break in surprising ways, even on colder days. I find that the best practice in spring is to steer clear of being too near an edge or under one of these features.

This Friday, we are having our end-of-season Shebang at Toll Station Pizza in McCall. Come join us from 6-8 pm for great pizza, raffle prizes, quick education, and community bonding...see you there.

The last avalanche forecast of the season will be published this Sunday. The observations page will always function and is a great resource for the shoulder season...If you're out in the mountains, submit an observation on our website or through the Avy App. Tag us #payetteavy

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