Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Warming temperatures this afternoon will increase your chances of triggering small wet avalanches on steep sunny slopes.  If the snow surface loses cohesion and becomes wet and sloppy this afternoon, seek out shadier aspects or lower-angle terrain to ride.  

This forecast is sponsored by Brooks Painting

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Temperatures have dropped back down to seasonal norms with overnight temperatures remaining below freezing.  This has helped to stabilize the upper snowpack, which lost much of its strength last week during the significant warmup.  Temperatures look to climb into the mid-40's today and skies should be sunny for at least most of the day.  Monitor surface conditions as you ride.  If your track starts punching in below the upper melt-freeze crust or you notice you are glopping around in wet and sloppy snow, avoid steep terrain and seek out shadier aspects.

    Wet Loose avalanche debris following a rain event in the Southern Wallowas (2/26/25)

    Photo: Caleb Merrill

Avalanche Discussion

The scarier wet avalanche....

Observations from Spout Springs on Wednesday found water pooling at a thick melt-freeze crust that was 1-2 feet from the surface.  Any time we have liquid water pooling on a crust or saturating weaker snow grains, we think about wet slab avalanches.  Wet slab avalanches can be very difficult to forecast the timing of and can also be extremely destructive, often gouging and altering the underlying landscape.   While cooler temperatures will likely put this process on hold for a few days, when "free water" exists in the snowpack- especially where pooled on a crust- wet slab avalanches could occur.  Throughout your travels, dig down a couple of feet and see how deep the snow has become saturated- if you find liquid water pooling at a crust, avoid avalanche terrain.  

Springtime weather patterns are often dynamic...

Sunny skies can turn to squally storm clouds in a short time.   Precipitation amounts can be difficult to forecast, and freezing levels can be quite variable.  Maintain your ability to be surprised and stay flexible in your mountain travel plans.  Play the hand you are dealt and keep your eyes on incoming weather.  

Please submit an observation here and help us reduce uncertainty.  It can be simple, short, and even anonymous.  Thank you! 

Regions covered