Avalanche forecast

Avalanche forecast

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Use caution in upper-elevation wind-loaded terrain...Variable winds gusting into the 20mph range have made wind slab avalanches 6-10" thick possible above 7,000 feet.  If you are seeing red flags like recent avalanches, cracking, or collapsing, choose another aspect.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    West-Southwest Winds have been light to moderate and have gusted at times into the 20mph range over the last 72 hours.  Upper-elevation terrain may be holding slabs that could be sensitive to the weight of a person, but are likely in and around ridgelines and cornices, and other leeward terrain near the peaks.

    Tuesday winds are forecasted out of the West-Northwest into the moderate range and are to increase through Wednesday. 

    With variable wind directions having moved snow around over the last 72 hours slabs have potentially formed in upper elevations anywhere from 6-10" thick. Pay attention to clues of wind loading direction on the snow surface. Older slabs have likely formed in Northern terrain whereas forecasted NNW winds are going to load and cover older development.

    If you are seeing red flags like cracking or collapsing of the snowpack find another aspect with lower angle terrain to travel.

Avalanche Discussion

Winds over the next 48 hours and new snow will increase wind slab avalanche danger in upper-elevation terrain.

Our snowpack has taken on a springlike character over the last couple of weeks. Temps have averaged warm, and above freezing at upper elevations until recent Northwest flow took over and is cooling temps back to normal. Stability is good even though our snowpack was not frozen on solar aspects on Monday from extended above-freezing temps at upper elevations through the last week. On shaded or northern aspects the snowpack is much drier and a little colder. Snowpack stability tests are showing failures in the upper 2 feet that are not propagating fractures in extended column tests. Weak layers of facets are the failure layer on Solar aspects with the facets being saturated or wet still from meltwater percolating down within the upper 1-2 feet of the snowpack. 

Today's advisory is sponsored by Rossignol