Avalanche forecast

Southern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

1-2 feet of new snow and increasing winds mean wind slab and storm slab avalanche problems exist. Triggering an avalanche within the new snow could be enough of a trigger to release an avalanche buried deeper in the snowpack. Staying off slopes steeper than 30 degrees is advised to avoid getting caught in a slide.

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Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3

    Despite the warm weather and rain in late January, poor snowpack structure still exists. The thick crust that now resides under the new since 2/1 may not be enough to protect you from triggering a persistent slab avalanche.  Triggering an avalanche would have serious consequences. If you want to avoid avalanches you should stay off of slopes greater than 30 degrees. 

    Ski Guide/Pro Observer Willie Sloop posted an observation Friday, 2/2 documenting this problem.

      

  • Wind Slabs

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

    16-24" of fresh snow sits on a melt-freeze crust from the prolonged period of warm weather and rain that ended 2/1. As the SE winds increase throughout the day wind slabs will begin to form on west through northeast slopes. Look for drifts, cornices, textured snow, and cracking as signs you are on a wind slab. These slabs will form on top of lower-density snow with a thick crust below them. This is an excellent recipe for an avalanche, just add a trigger. Don't be that trigger, remember that this fresh snow lies on top of a dangerous snowpack. If you are on a slope steep enough to trigger a wind slab, it's also steep enough for a persistent slab.

     

    Cracking in new wind-blown snow on a small test slope.

    Photo: Nick Burks

Avalanche Discussion

16-24" of new snow has fallen since Thursday 2/1, when this storm began. Wind slabs, storm slabs, and dry loose avalanches are possible.  The firm crust that sits below all this new snow creates an excellent sliding surface for any avalanche that gets started. Despite this crust, the snowpack below is still sensitive and weak.  Any terrain capable of producing one of these new snow avalanches is also capable of producing persistent slab avalanches. Ski Guide/Pro Observer Willie Sloop posted an observation friday, 2/2 documenting this problem. A complicated snowpack with overlapping avalanche problems means choosing terrain less than 30 degrees is the best way to avoid triggering a slide. Continued vigilance is necessary to avoid getting caught in a powerful destructive avalanche.

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Sunday, Feb 4th-

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