Avalanche forecast

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Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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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. Loose snow avalanches may release on steep, rocky slopes that face the sun.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Earlier this week, skiers triggered wind slab avalanches in the northern and southern Sawtooths while entering steep, exposed terrain. 

    Although active wind loading has mostly subsided in the past 24 hours, 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.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    As the day warms up, look for rollerballs or "gloppy" snow conditions to indicate that the surface snow is becoming moist, and that wet loose avalanches may follow. These avalanches will primarily be found in steep solar slopes at mid and low elevations and can occur near the base of rock outcrops where additional warming occurs.

    Although likely to be small, these slides can sweep you off your feet and push you into terrain traps.  If the snow surface is getting sticky, head to sheltered shady slopes to avoid triggering a wet loose avalanche.

Avalanche Discussion

This weekend seems like the perfect setup for a minor misstep with big consequences. Lovely weather, a foot or two of fresh snow, and a general trend towards stability each (individually) can drop your guard in the mountains... but with their forces combined, the pull towards undue avalanche exposure is strong. Don't let this potent cocktail of ideal seeming conditions lull you into skipping steps in your hazard assessment and travel techniques. Keep in mind that big terrain has big consequences for even the slightest mistakes, and that terrain traps below benign seeming slopes can amplify the outcome of small avalanches. If you choose to enter avalanche terrain, only expose one member of your party at a time and have a plan for if something unexpected happens.

Where would we expect to find the most trouble today? In the shallower, rocky, wind-swept, steep terrain where snow depths are more variable.

Regions covered