Avalanche forecast

Salmon River Mountains

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Natural and human-triggered wet loose avalanches remain likely on steep slopes (>35 degrees) across multiple aspects. Wet, loose avalanches that gouge deeply into the snowpack could trigger a larger slab avalanche. Large, overhanging cornices are unstable; give them a wide berth. If you are sinking into wet, mushy snow, find a safer route and call it a day.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    After four days of a record-breaking heatwave, wet loose slides remain likely across a variety of aspects and elevations. The most unstable snow will likely be on solar aspects from the warmth and direct sunshine of the past several days. Some of these avalanches could be large enough to bury you. If you find yourself sinking into wet, mushy snow, it's time to find a safe exit from the mountains. Wet-loose avalanches are most problematic in confined terrain or on steep slopes, where they can accumulate large amounts of snow. These avalanches can gouge deeper into the snowpack, triggering a larger avalanche.

    This recent observation highlights the wide variety of snow surfaces you can find throughout the day. Subtle differences in the weather, such as wind chill and cloud cover, can make a big difference in how the snow surface is either freezing or melting. Differences in terrain, like aspect and elevation, can significantly change the flavor of the snow surface.

    This photo highlights small, wet, loose avalanches originating from rocks catching the afternoon heat.

Avalanche Discussion

Our four-day record heatwave is winding down. The weather during this period was remarkable. Secesh SNOTEL site (6540 feet), reached daytime high temperatures above 55 F for the past four days, two of those days temperatures climbed above 65 F. McCall airport recorded a high temperature of 70 F yesterday afternoon. Yesterday, several upper elevation weather stations nearly hit 60 F. Over the past five days, we've seen the snowpack shrink and settle by 10 inches. Despite this wild weather, we have yet to see the snowpack become completely unhinged. Despite a slight cooling trend today, the snowpack remains unstable. It can take days of below-freezing temperatures to slow the meltwater that's been draining through the snowpack. Continued warm temperatures, increased cloud cover, and a slight chance of rain will keep wet avalanche activity on the menu today. Even small, wet slides can build quickly and become a problem on exposed slopes and in terrain traps like gullies, creeks, cliffs, and rocky, thin terrain. Pay attention to the snow surface with questions like: How solid did it freeze last night? How quickly is the crust breaking down? Am I sinking into wet, mushy snow deeper than my ankles? How is the weather (cloud cover, wind, temperature) impacting the snow? 

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: 

  • CORNICES - Large, overhanging cornices have become unstable during this heatwave. Some of these monsters can break off naturally or by the weight of a person. Give all cornices a wide margin, and be careful along ridgelines as they can break much farther back than expected. Limit your exposure underneath them. A cornice fall could trigger a larger, persistent slab avalanche. 

  • PERSISTENT SLABS - Triggering a deeper, persistent slab avalanche has been unlikely. There has been uncertainty as to how these persistent slabs will respond to the heatwave.  Continued warm temperatures, the weight of a cornice fall, or large gouging wet, loose avalanches could awaken these deeper weak layers. These could be wet or dry slab avalanches. Persistent slabs should be a topic of discussion within your group travel plan today.

If you're out in the mountains, submit an observation on our website or through the Avy App. Tag us #payetteavy

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