Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Today's storm will build thin, isolated dunes of wind-drifted snow which may be sensitive to your weight. You are most likely to encounter this problem in the western portion of this zone (Dollarhide to the Soldiers) where more snow is forecast to fall today. Large avalanches are unlikely. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Today's storm is forecast to bring up to 5" of snow to the western portion of this zone (Dollarhide area and west to the Soldiers). Moderate to strong winds blowing out of the S-SW will transport this snow into isolated drifts and dunes. These will be most common at upper elevations but may extend down into middle elevations as well, thanks to the strength of the wind. These small slabs are being deposited on slick crusts and small facets, which will them a bit more sensitive to your weight. 

    Be on the lookout for these as you are traveling in the mountains today. They won't be large enough to bury you, but they may be able to knock you off your feet or your sled and send you down the slope. The greatest hazard these will pose will be from getting pulled down the slope at high speed. The presence of rocks, cliffs, and trees can all significantly increase the consequences of being pulled down the slope. 

    (3/8/2022) New snow drifting along the Salt Bowns Rd in the Soldier Mtns. 

Avalanche Discussion

The weak layers that exist in the upper snowpack in our other forecast zones are generally absent here. Why is that? Unfortunately, it hasn't snowed a significant amount here since early January. Instead of burying and preserving the weak snow that has formed that weak snow has remained at or very close to the surface. Without a slab of snow overlying this weak snow, it does not pose any avalanche hazard. Today's storm is forecast to bring just a few inches of snow to the western portions of this zone, accompanied by moderate to strong winds. This isn't enough snow to significantly change the equation, but it will give today's wind a little ammunition for building slabs. These slabs may be a little touchier than your run-of-the-mill wind slab, thanks to the weak snow they will be deposited on.

If you want to read a bit more about what the upper snowpack looks like in our other areas, click on the Forecast for one of those zones and scroll down to the Forecast Discussion section at the bottom. 

Regions covered