Avalanche forecast

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

New snow and strong winds will create sensitive slabs today in exposed terrain.  In sheltered lower elevation terrain, the new snow may fall onto a crust from yesterday's rain event and could be sensitive to the weight of a rider.  Dangerous avalanche conditions will continue today and cautious route finding will be important if you venture into the mountains.  Avoid exposed upper elevation terrain that is being loaded by SW winds. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    A forecasted 5" of new snow throughout the day will create sensitive slabs to the weight of a rider.  This new snow will be falling on a variety of surfaces depending on your elevation.   It will be important to dig down below the new snow to see where a rain crust may exist.  Strong SW winds will be loading North through East facing terrain in exposed areas.  Avoid areas of wind loaded terrain and use clues such as rounded stiff pillows, rippled snow surface, and plumes off of the ridgelines to help identify these locations.  Sensitive cornices will be growing along ridgelines and should be avoided. Utilize small test slopes to ride your machine over or jump on with your boards to test the sensitivity of these new storm slabs. 

    On days where we have transitioning temperatures, it is critical to look at the interfaces of the snow layers to monitor for how well the new snow is bonding.  Isolating a small column with your hand or ski pole and pulling on the back side of it will give you a lot of useful information.  If the block slides off very easily, your chances of triggering an avalanche in steep terrain is higher.   Savvy observers will also look at the amount of saturation in the layers below yesterday's rain event and track how these layers may be reacting with dry snow below this layer.  Check out Kevin Cassidy's video observation from yesterday.  

     

  • Loose Wet

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

    With above freezing temperatures yesterday and overnight, we may see some wet loose activity at the lower elevation bands.  Look for roller balls or pinwheels that start entraining loose wet snow with them in terrain steeper than 30 degrees.  This problem should decrease throughout the day as temperatures drop to the teens by evening.  Avoid terrain where even a small wet loose could knock you off your feet.  Avoid riding above terrain traps such as gullies, creeks, and cliffs. 

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterdays warm storm brought a mix of rain, snow, and wind to the Elkhorns.  Challenging riding conditions were reported by those who ventured to Anthony Lakes.   Weather stations in the southern part of the Elkhorns are reporting 16" storm totals with 1.2" of water since 1/3/22.  Anthony Lakes is reporting 25".  Natural avalanches were reported in steep terrain above 35 degrees around 6,000' in the Southern Wallowas.  The snowpack doesn't like a lot of change in a short amount of time.  Give the snowpack some time to settle before commiting to terrain steeper than 35 degrees.  

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