Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
5 · Extreme
Treeline
5 · Extreme
Below
5 · Extreme
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions exist, from the valley floor to the mountaintops. Avalanches failing in the new snow are certain and will be large enough to bury you. Much larger avalanches failing on weak snow buried 3 to 4 feet down in the snowpack are very likely and may impact valley bottoms. Avoid all avalanche terrain as well as terrain exposed to avalanches from above. Avalanches may be triggered remotely—from gentler terrain above, below, and to the sides of steep slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Natural and human-triggered avalanches failing on a widespread layer of weak snow are very likely. These slides will be very large, and likely unsurvivable. This weak layer was buried 1 to 2 feet down before this storm started, and is now capped with an additional 1 to 3 feet of snow from the ongoing storm.

    Steering clear of all avalanche terrain and terrain exposed to steeper slopes above is the only way to avoid this problem today. Avalanches may be triggered remotely—from gentler terrain above, below, and to the sides of steep slopes. Very large natural avalanches will impact valley floors. Sluffing, cornice breaks, or small storm slabs can act as effective triggers, "stepping down" to release a very large and dangerous slide.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Certain
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    1-2' of snow fell in this zone in the past 24 hours. Intense snowfall continues for much of the day, with an additional 8-12" by nightfall. Expect to find a range of storm-related avalanche problems. Thick, dense, reactive wind slabs have formed and will continue to grow in exposed terrain.  In sheltered terrain, enough cohesive snow has fallen to build very touchy storm slabs large enough to bury you. Loose snow avalanches are occurring continuously. Any snow that isn't releasing naturally will be very easy to trigger today. Natural and human-triggered slides failing in the new snow have a good chance of "stepping down" to the weak snow described above, creating very large avalanches.

Avalanche Discussion

We are in the midst of a storm that will be talked about in this area for years to come. This storm has pushed our impressively weak snowpack well past its breaking point. The only travel advice I can give you today is to stay out of the way. Far out of the way.

Today will be an extraordinarily dangerous day in both the mountains and the valleys. All flavors of avalanches are on the menu. Staying safe today will require you to be aware of all of the steep terrain around you. This includes your roof, the small slopes that you normally don't even notice, and the big slopes that are veiled by clouds and snow. 

Please, be safe out there. Today is not the day to expose yourself to avalanche hazard.

Regions covered