Avalanche forecast

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The size and likelihood of avalanches will increase as you climb into windy terrain. You can reduce your risk of triggering large avalanches by avoiding steep slopes with harder, wind-drifted snow at the surface.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

     While unlikely, we can't write off triggering large avalanches. There are two sets of weak interfaces to be aware of:

    1. Rain crusts or crust + facet combinations—Found in the upper half of the snowpack on most middle elevation slopes. Evidence suggests that these are healing, but their high variability with elevation and aspect makes their behavior hard to predict. 
    2. Weak sugary facets—Found near the ground on middle and upper elevation slopes, especially those facing away from the sun. Triggering a slide on this layer is most likely in windy and/or rocky areas where the snowpack depth is variable and in more sheltered terrain where the snowpack is around 3 feet deep.

    You can reduce the chances of triggering these avalanches by avoiding steep, wind-affected, or rocky slopes.

    Additional Discussion: You may be able to trigger wind slab avalanches that formed near ridgelines and in cross-loaded areas on the sides of gullies.  Look for recent cornice growth, dunes, or ripples in the snow surface. These are signs the wind has been at work, transporting snow.

    (12/28/2025) Large natural avalanches. Paradise Peak and West Fork Big Creek. Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Today's cloudy weather and light snowfall will do little to change the avalanche equation. If the storm accelerates, and you're out near dark, be alert to thin, freshly forming wind slabs. Observations indicate that older wind slabs, which formed over the weekend, are healing and difficult to trigger. 

Whether it's thin Wind Slabs or a much larger Persistent Slab, avoiding steep, rocky slopes with stiff slabs near the surface will reduce the odds you find trouble. 

Regions covered