Avalanche forecast

Avalanche forecast

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The Avalanche hazard in the West Central Mountains is Moderate above 7,000 feet. New snow and gusty winds have created wind slabs 3-6 inches deep that may be sensitive to the weight of a skier or rider.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Gusty winds were transporting the 2-3 inches of new snow yesterday. We watched Southwest winds sending large plumes of snow far down a Northeast aspect in the Fisher Creek drainage yesterday.

    Shallow wind slabs 3-6 inches deep have formed on a variety of crusts and graupel layers that may be sensitive to the weight of a skier. Watch for visual clues that indicate wind loading. Local terrain can dictate the aspect that gets loaded.  If you see red flags like cracking on the snow surface or hear whoomphing or hollow drumlike sounds in the snowpack, choose another aspect.

Avalanche Discussion

After a lot of Sun this past week, our snowpack is on track to freeze upper layers that got saturated from the repeated melt-freeze, and rain below 7,000 feet. Overnight temperatures have been producing mild freezing of the snowpack until last night.  With a blanket of fresh snow on top, it may be modestly frozen just below the new snow on aspects that were facing the Sun.  Winds were scouring snow, and sending it off the tops of peaks yesterday. Our test pits are still showing a strong snowpack, now with new few inches of snow being the main concern.

We would love to hear from you...If you see or trigger avalanche activity, please take the time to snap a picture and note the approximate elevation and aspect, you can submit an observation on our website. Getting your info helps forecasters and other users get a better picture of the conditions throughout our mountains. If you have trouble using our observations page, please email us at: [email protected]   Please be mindful of other users in the mountains, and where you are at. There are closures for motorized travel in and around the local ski areas, in the Lick Creek Canyon,  Granite Mtn, Jug Mountain, and other areas throughout our region.  Check out the Winter Travel Map to find out where you can shred on your sled or moto.   Not all of these areas are signed, it is your responsibility to know where these closures exist.