Avalanche forecast

West Mountains

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Natural and human-triggered wet loose avalanches are possible on steep, south-facing slopes, especially on melt-freeze crusts. Pay attention to signs indicating surface snow is becoming wet and unstable. If you're sinking deeply into wet, mushy snow, it's time to switch to a different aspect. Stick to shaded aspects, away from wind-affected snow, to find the safest conditions.

Today is our last avalanche forecast of the season. We will continue to update the General Avalanche Information as conditions warrant. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Another warm, spring day will keep wet loose avalanche activity on the menu today. Underneath the recent storm snow, melt-freeze crusts and wet snow were buried across multiple aspects and elevations. As new snow becomes wet and unstable, wet loose avalanches sliding on top of these crusts could become dangerous on steep slopes tilted toward the sun. Be heads up around slopes steeper than 35 degrees if the sun is destabilizing the new snow. Wet loose avalanches typically begin at a single point (such as rocks, cliffs, or trees) and travel downhill slowly, picking up snow and momentum. Wet loose slides can pack a serious punch in steep terrain. Be mindful of terrain traps like gullies or depressions, where wet, loose avalanche debris can pile up quickly and deeply. If you're observing signs that the new snow is becoming wet and unstable (shedding off solar objects like rocks, trees, cliffs, or rollerballs/pinwheels), it's time to switch to a different aspect that's not receiving direct sunshine.

    Dry Loose - On the steep, shaded, north-facing slopes, be prepared to manage dry loose avalanches, or sluff. Similar to their sun-loving sibling, dry loose avalanches can easily sweep you off your feet in steep, consequential terrain and have bad outcomes.

    (3/18/2026)

    Wet loose avalanches originating from steep, rocky terrain

    Photo: Brian Peters

Avalanche Discussion

Our recent storm snow received a full dose of spring sunshine yesterday. Temperatures remained warm overnight at upper elevations. Most slopes tilted toward the sun will likely have a melt-freeze crust on them this morning. Within the past week, the weather abruptly changed from spring to winter and back to spring again. Like the friend fumbling with their new gear, the snowpack lags behind. The snowpack takes much more time to adapt to these abrupt changes in weather. Give yourself room to adapt to a changing snowpack today. Be flexible and pay attention. Look for clues indicating the upper snowpack is becoming wet and unstable, like surface crusts breaking down, sinking deeply into wet, mushy snow, or natural wet, loose avalanche activity.

Slab Avalanches - New snow has settled, and winds have died down. Triggering a wind slab is unlikely. Areas where you might find lingering pockets of wind slabs are above 7,500 feet, on east-facing slopes, just below corniced ridgelines. When recent storm snow receives direct sunshine for the first time, this new snow can consolidate quickly, form a slab, and create slab avalanches. These can be particularly dangerous on slick bed surfaces, like melt-freeze crusts. These solar-induced slab avalanches typically occur during the first day of direct sun following a storm and can subside in the ensuing days. As crusts begin to form in the upper snowpack, these slab avalanches become less likely. Today would be a day to pay attention to how slabby the recent storm snow feels, especially on those slopes that caught some (but not full) sun yesterday (W-N-E). If new snow is becoming dense and heavy, avoid slopes steeper than 35 degrees.

Today is our last avalanche forecast of the season. We will continue to update the General Avalanche Information as conditions warrant. 

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