Avalanche forecast

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Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

The combination of new snow, moderate winds, and a firm sliding surface has created the possibility of windslab avalanche instability on steep leeward north, northeast, northwest, and east facing slopes at and above treeline. Carefully evaluate weather and snow conditions if you plan to travel or recreate upon slopes steeper than 35 degrees in the aforementioned areas.

 

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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds out of the south, southwest, and west have been blowing strong enough to create wind slab formation on north, northeast, east, and even west facing terrain in some locations in the last 48 hours. When traveling on or through steep terrain at and above treeline, suspect the possibility that the snow you are traveling on is a windslab that could be triggered by the added weight of a human. If you observe shooting cracks projecting out in front of your skis or snowshoes,  that is a red flag telling you the snow you are traveling upon is unstable and could avalanche. Other signs that windslabs are present include new snow features that look like big pillows, and snow that sounds and feels hollow as you travel across it. And of course, the most obvious red flag is the observance of avalanches in the area. If you see avalanches on or near the slopes you are recreating upon, that is all the info you need to know that avalanches are possible. Leeward facing terrain  steeper than 35 degrees near ridgelines and above treeline are the areas most likely to produce a human triggered avalanche today. Evaluate the snowpack and weather conditions carefully if you choose to recreate on the aforementioned terrain. If in doubt about that steep slope, you can always choose to recreate on lower angle slopes where today you will find great riding conditions.

    (12/29/2022)

    Small but reactive windslabs starting to develop on leeward facing terrain at 7400' , Western Wallowas.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–3

    We still have weak layers that are buried deeply in our snowpack close to the ground. In some areas observed, these persistent weak layers are buried 8' deep. Other areas of the snowpack, especially lower elevations, the snowpack is as thin as 3'-4' (or less). These shallow areas of the snowpack are places where the recreationalist is most likely to trigger a deep persistent slab avalanche. Today it would be difficult to trigger one of these beasts, but the consequences of triggering such an avalanche would be severe. Keep that in mind today when recreating on terrain steeper than 30 degrees where the snowpack is thin,like around rocky features and near wind scoured ridgelines. 

    (12/30/2022)

    Recent avalanche in the Northern Wallowas. This avalanche occurred at low elevation on a northeast facing slope in the Northern Wallowas. I believe this recent avalanche failed on the weak  persistent weak layer that resides close to the ground in our snowpack.

Avalanche Discussion

On Thursday I ski toured in the Western Wallowas. The weather was overcast and windy. The predominantly south and southeast winds were top loading and cross loading almost all aspects depending on location, even west facing slopes at and near 7500' . I performed ski cuts on small test slopes where thin windslabs sitting on the Christmas rain crust were easily triggered. Yesterday I toured in the Northern Elkhorns. There the snow was most  wind affected at and above treeline and near ridgelines. While ski touring through north, northeast, and east facing terrain the most notable red flag was the observance of shooting cracks projecting from my ski tips. This event happened at ridgeline, 8400' , while traveling under a small cornice. This was an isolated occurrence not observed anywhere else in my ski tour yesterday. Just the same, we chose to avoid the east facing slopes below. Snowpit data taken yesterday revealed instability in the upper 6"-8" of new wind effected snow but no propagation. I was unable to trigger instability on any of my slope cutting tests performed yesterday as well. Have a safe and enjoyable day !

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