Avalanche forecast

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

New snow and wind have formed touchy slabs at middle and upper elevations. To avoid triggering an avalanche, use shooting cracks and "upside down" feeling snow as indicators to move to lower angle terrain or locations with less new snow. Open exposed terrain, near ridgelines, cross-loaded gullies, and alpine features are areas where you're most likely to trigger a large avalanche today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Strong overnight winds coupled with 20+ inches of snowfall have formed touchy wind slabs up to 3 feet thick on leeward slopes. Expect to find these slabs in open terrain, near ridgelines, in cross-loaded gullies, and in steep arpons below cliffs at middle and upper elevations, primarily on NW, N, NE, E, and SE slopes. The alpine areas of the Sawtooths and the Smoky crest, where the most snow fell and variable orographic winds quickly redistributed snow, are expected to be the most dangerous today. Cracks shooting out from your sled or boards are a clear sign you've found a slab and should dial back your terrain choices to play it safe. Natural loose snow sluffs or cornice fall could also trigger slab avalanches; minimize the time you spend in the runouts of large avalanche paths. On some slopes, crusts and / or weak snow exist beneath the new snow meaning that avalanches could be easy to trigger and may break wider than you expect.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Dense, damp storm snow formed slabs on most slopes sheltered from the wind. These avalanches could be big enough to catch, carry, and injure people. Storm slab avalanches are most likely to release where it's "steepest and deepest." On some slopes, crusts and / or weak snow exist beneath the new snow meaning that avalanches could be easy to trigger and may break wider than you expect. Shooting cracks and "upside down" feeling snow are clear indicators that you've found storm slabs. Pivoting to lower-angle terrain or locations with less storm snow is your best bet to avoid triggering one of these avalanches today.

Avalanche Discussion

The western edge of the Sawtooths and Western Smokys have received the most snowfall so far in this atmospheric river event (10-20 inches or more). The alpine areas of these ranges are expected to hold the touchiest avalanche conditions and are worth giving a wide berth as we wait for the storm snow to settle out. If the sun peeks out for any extended period of time, expect widespread natural loose avalanches that may trigger larger wind slabs or storm slabs. These will primarily release in steep terrain facing the sun or under cliffs.

Although unlikely, there is still a small chance that smaller avalanches within the new snow could trigger large, deep persistent slabs. This is especially concerning In the south-eastern edges of the forecast area, such as the drainages near Smiley Creek townsite.

Regions covered