Avalanche forecast

Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

You could trigger wet snow avalanches on steep slopes basking in unobscured sun. Larger, thicker, and more destructive avalanches are becoming unlikely, but not out of the question. You can reduce your risk by traveling on colder, supportable snow and avoiding areas where you sink into a mushy, wet snowpack. Cornices are large and may be unstable—give them a wide berth. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Wet, loose avalanches are possible on steep slopes. Rollerballs and a slushy snow surface are clues that the snow is heating up, and wet avalanches may soon follow. Although beginning small, they can grow large enough to knock you off your feet or bury you in channeled terrain. Even small slides are consequential above terrain traps such as gullies, creeks, and thick timber. Avoid lingering under big avalanche paths and steep, rocky slopes during the heat of the day. Natural avalanches are becoming less likely following this week's warm temperatures however, with the strong sunshine this morning into the afternoon, a skier or rider could trigger a slide today in steep sun-drenched slopes. 

    (3/26/2025) Wet loose activity in Meadow Basin, Sawtooths. Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–2.5

    Large wet slab avalanches are most likely at middle and upper elevations where meltwater reaches buried weak layers. Weak layers of facets and crust + facet combinations are most prominent above 8000' on slopes facing E-NE-N-NW. Very warm temperatures and warm sunshine pushed meltwater deep into the snowpack. The potential for large wet slab avalanches will remain until the snowpack fully drains or refreezes.

    This problem is hard to predict and not easily managed. Your best bet is to avoid traveling through and under avalanche paths with cliffs or rock outcroppings near the start zones.  

    Additional Discussion: Cornices are large and may be unstable. Some may release naturally. They can break further back than expected—give them a wide berth when traveling along ridgelines.

    (3/26/2025) Wet Slab on McGowan Pk in the Sawtooths. Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Below-freezing temperatures overnight have frozen the snow surface, keeping any surficial wet snow problems at bay. Be wary of stepping into very steep slopes where this crust has softened and wetted, most likely on steep slopes basking in unobscured sun. Many of the easy-picking slopes have avalanched naturally over the last week of warm temperatures, and natural avalanches are unlikely—the more pressing concern would be triggering one of these slides in very steep terrain where you could be knocked off your feet and carried where you don't want to go.  

Last night's freeze and cooler temperatures today will slow the meltwater, making its way deeper into the snowpack. However, one night of below-freezing temperatures won't be enough to completely halt water movement. Wet slabs are unpredictable and can occur days after a warm-up, leaving us with some unknowns. But what we do know is that we have water pooling in buried weak layers 1-2 feet below the surface (Ethan highlights this in this video), and the slope-to-slope variability is high. Subtle differences in terrain orientation, wind, and cloud cover can make a huge difference. We haven't seen widespread evidence of wet slab avalanches, but that doesn't mean we are out of the woods yet, and natural or human-triggered avalanches aren't totally out of the question. To manage the uncertainty associated with wet slabs, you can build wide safety margins around your terrain choices and minimize time spent under large avalanche paths.

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