You're most likely to trigger an avalanche today where the wind has transported snow and formed slabs. Triggering avalanches near and below treeline still remains possible due to multiple weak layers buried in our snowpack. Choose terrain carefully looking for wind-drifted snow and weak layers buried in the snowpack.
Today's avalanche forecast is sponsored by Winding Waters River Expeditions
We are still observing poor structure in our snowpack with weak snow at the bottom and many crust facet combinations near the ground in both the Elkhorns and the Northern Wallowas. The likelihood of triggering one of these avalanches is low but the consequences are extremely high. You are most likely to trigger a deep persistent avalanche on steep terrain where the snowpack is rocky or thin.
Winds will continue throughout the day transporting snow to NW-N-NE slopes forming slabs on exposed terrain. As these winds continue to transport snow the avalanche danger has increased and it will be likely to trigger a wind slab. Winds will be strongest in the Northern Wallowas ranging between 20-36 mph with gusts up to 52 mph out of the southwest. The winds in the Elkhorns are forecasted between 15-25 mph with gusts up to 39 mph out of the south. Snow will continue to be transported to the northeast, north, and northwest slopes. Look for signs of wind loading on leeward terrain along ridgelines and cross-loaded mid-slope terrain features. Choose your terrain carefully before you commit to steep slopes if you see signs of wind loading, such as wind-moving snow, fresh cornices, drifts, and wind pillows.
(2/2/2023)
Snow being transported by the wind from south to north in the Elkhorns 2/2/2023
Photo: Kelly McNeil
We continue to find weak layers of snow that are reactive in our snowpack tests in the upper 3' of the snowpack. You will have to dig down to make an assessment, of whether or not these layers are present and reactive if you really want to collect more detailed information. Clues such as whumping and cracking may or may not be present, and the distribution of buried surface hoar is not universal across terrain features and aspects.
Before committing to slopes greater than 30 degrees it is essential that you take the time to understand what weak layers may exist in the snowpack. Buried surface hoar can appear as a grey stripe in the snowpack, but this is not always the case if it is lying down. Often times we will find it while conducting a shovel shear test. If all of this sounds like too much work, or out of your comprehension then ski and ride one at a time, limit exposure, stay clear of runout zones, and keep your slope angles less than 30 degrees.
Please join us for the 11 Annual Eastern Oregon Backcountry Festival this weekend. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and helps us continue to provide forecasts and outreach to you all.
February 3-5th.
If you aren't able to make it out for the events you can support the WAC by purchasing raffle tickets or bidding on items in our online auctionhere. The online auction and raffle will run from Jan 20th at Midnight to February 5th at 8PM.
