Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The series of storms this last week dumped a ton of snow on the Blue Mountains. Since Friday, Feb. 12th, the Blues -especially around Tollgate - have picked up more than 3 feet of new snow above 5,000'.  In the last 72 hours the Milkshakes Snotel site at 5600' is reporting almost 7" of water or snow water equivalent (SWE). This is a significant load and has stressed the existing snowpack creating unstable storm slab conditions. Human-triggered avalanches are possible. Avoid and stay out from under slopes greater than 30 degrees. Avoid wind-loaded terrain features near ridgeline, especially north-east facing slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Expect to find unstable storm slabs on slopes greater than 30 degrees. These storm slabs are up to 36" deep. The new snow needs time to bond to the old snow surface. Avoid and stay out from underneath slopes greater than 30 degrees. Be conservative in your terrain selection for the next few days as the snowpack adjusts to all the new snow. This is especially important through the weekend as the new snow settles, becomes more slablike, and subsequently could become more reactive to the weight of a skier or rider. 

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Increasing southwest to westerly winds today will pick up and move the light fluffy new snow onto leeward terrain features near ridgeline today creating reactive and unstable wind slabs. These wind slabs may be 12" to over 24" thick in some locations. Avoid N-E facing slopes greater than 30 degrees in the alpine and especially near ridgeline. Avoid smooth rounded pillows and cross-loaded terrain features mid-slope. If you go from sinking in a foot or more on your skis, board, or snowmobile to riding right on top, then you are likely on a potential wind slab.  Best bet to avoid this problem is to ride in more protected terrain below treeline. 

Avalanche Discussion

Our area mountains in the last week have been dumped on. Some locations like Milkshakes (5600') near Tollgate have picked up 3-4 feet of new snow since last Friday, Feb. 12th. This is a significant load and strain on the existing snowpack. The best recipe for avoiding avalanches is to make conservative terrain choices for the next few days. The snowpack needs time to adjust to this new load. Keep your slope angles low...below 30 degrees. There is plenty of good riding out there right now on those lower slope angles. The snow quality is high. Be patient...there will be an opportunity to ski and ride steeper terrain a bit later down the road. 

A note to snowmobilers - it is likely many of the snow park trailheads will not be plowed for several days and it may be hard to find a place to park your trailer and rig. If looking to venture up near Tollgate this weekend, I would contact ODOT or the Umatilla National Forest to see what is plowed or not plowed. 

Regions covered