Avalanche forecast

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Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Generally safe avalanches conditions today for the mountains of Northeast Oregon. Watch for unstable snow on steep south facing slopes, especially near rocky terrain features. Small avalanches are possible on this steep ( greater than 35 degrees ) solar affected terrain. Also, use extreme caution when traveling in corniced terrain today. Above freezing temperatures at upper elevations will cause these already weak overhangs to weaken even more.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

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

    Yesterday temperatures above treeline and at ridgelines were slightly above freezing and I expect that trend to continue today. Above freezing temperatures can have a weakening affect on a large overhanging mass of snow (cornice). Stay well away from the slope  edge of any ridgelines you might be traveling on today unless you are 100% certain you are not traveling on a cornice. Cornices tend to break  further back from the slope edge than you might think and can easily fail under the weight of a person.

    (1/2/2022) null

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    In my travels throughout our mountain region this past week I really have not been seeing very much evidence of wet loose avalanche activity. That said, I think it could still be possible to trigger a small wet loose slide on steep (greater than 35 degrees) south facing terrain that is directly below or adjacent to large rocky features, especially in the alpine and near ridge tops. The large  rocky features absorb a lot of  heat from the sun and transfer that heat to the snow thereby weakening/de-stabilizing the surrounding snow and causing it to fail. If you observe the presence of roller balls under and close to these rocky features, or on any steep solar affected terrain,  it is time to seek lower angle terrain ( less than 35 degrees ) and more shaded terrain. 

Avalanche Discussion

While ski touring and snowmobiling this past week throughout the mountains, we continue to observe good stability. Although stability is good at this time, we continue to be concerned about structural weakness in the upper snowpack that will become problems when Winter returns in earnest. Yesterday we observed a triple decker crust/facet layer cake in the upper 12" of the snowpack on north facing mid elevation terrain. This structurally weak area of the snowpack sits atop strong dense snow that could be a great sliding surface or bed surface for future avalanches. Also, we are seeing the formation of weak and persistent grain types at the snow surface on terrain sheltered from wind and sun. Between weak snow at the snow surface and existing  firm/crusty snow surfaces, any future new snow will have a difficult time bonding to this old weathered snow it will be perched upon. Think about this as we move forward into mid winter and the arrival of more snow.

Regions covered