Avalanche forecast

Southern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

New snow sitting on top of a slick bed surface will increase the avalanche danger today.  Slopes greater than 35 degrees, with steep convexities, will be the likely trigger points for storm slabs and fresh wind slab avalanches.  Use conservative terrain selection before poking out into steeper and more challenging terrain today.  The best snow conditions will likely be on lower angle slopes anyways.

Forecast presented by @onxbackcountry. onX Backcountry is a GPS  navigation and mapping tool designed with your backcountry objectives in mind, equipped with Avalanche Forecast and Slope Angle layers, Offline Maps and more.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    With the local SNOTEL sites reporting 8-9" of snow, the conditions have changed dramatically in the Northern Wallowas.  The new snow came in on the cold side, and cold temperatures last night will not help the new snow bond to the old rain crust from last week.  It will be possible to trigger an avalanche today, in terrain greater than 35 degrees.  Use conservative terrain selection and avoid steep convexities, especially those with bad runouts.  

    It would be very possible to still find slide for life conditions with the hardness of the crust that formed last week on steep slopes.  You may look at a slope and feel like it looks like pure powder bliss, and then have the rug pulled out from under you when you lose an edge.  

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds are forecasted to increase today in the Northern Wallowas.  If you see plumes of drifting snow, feel harder drum-like now sitting above softer snow, or observe dune-like formations these are all clues that a wind slab has formed or is forming.  These fresh slabs will be sitting above the slick rain crust from last week and will be sensitive to the weight of a rider on steep slopes.  The best recommendation is to stick to sheltered terrain, or slopes without the presence of a wind slab to find safer and more enjoyable riding conditions.  

    (3/9/2022)

    Gusty NW winds on 3/9 were scouring upper north-facing terrain and depositing snow onto southerly aspects near ridgeline creating reactive wind slabs. Watch for pockets of wind slab on the leeward side of ribs and gullies mid-slope.

    Photo: M. Hatch

Avalanche Discussion

The Aneroid snotel reported 0.8" of SWE and Mt Howard 0.9" of SWE total for the past 48 hours.  Cold temperatures this morning, in the single digits and below.  The winds haven't really picked up yet, but are in the forecast for today.  Keep in mind the new snow is resting on a very stout crust from last week's rain on snow event.  Losing an edge in steep terrain could end poorly.  

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