Avalanche forecast

Northern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

So far this morning reported wind speeds are light. However, southwest winds are forecasted to pickup throughout the day creating the formation of windslabs on north, northeast, and east facing terrain. Assuming these winds materialize as forecasted, expect wind slabs to quickly form on the aforementioned terrain at and above treeline, especially in the Northern Wallowas. Some locations in the Southern Wallowas could be wind affected as well. If you observe wind and associated wind transported snow while out recreating today, it is suggested you travel on slopes less than 35 degrees in steepness, or where wind loading has not occurred.

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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The Northern Wallowas received 6"-8" of new snow during our most recent Tuesday into Wednesday storm cycle. Windslab avalanche activity was observed in McCully Basin on Tuesday and I expect that problem to linger through the day today. I observed light winds and 6"-8" of new snow in the Wing Ridge area yesterday. The new snow was undisturbed by wind, all aspects and elevations, as of yesterday afternoon but I expect that to change today because moderate to strong southwest winds are in the forecast for today and tonight for the Northern Wallowas, and some locations in the Southern Wallowas as well. Look for windslabs to form on leeward north, northeast, and east facing terrain at and above treeline and especially near ridgelines today and tonight. There is a lot of loose new snow available to be transported by the forecasted wind onto the aforementioned leeward facing slopes today and tonight creating dangerous avalanche conditions on leeward facing slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Cautious route finding and conservative decision making will be essential today when traveling in the alpine and at ridgelines on and underneath terrain steeper than 35 degrees.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    I observed several skier triggered dry loose avalanches yesterday while touring in the Wing Ridge area. These sluffs were observed on terrain steeper than 35 degrees and were made up of the new snow from our most recent storm from Tuesday/Wednesday. Expect dry loose avalanches on the steepest terrain in areas unaffected by wind today. Steep, wind sheltered terrain at and below treeline is the terrain most likely to have the most potential to sluff when disturbed by the weight of a skier or snowmobile rider. Think about the consequences of getting caught in a loose dry avalanche before committing to that steep slope today. A sluff can easily carry a rider into an undesirable terrain trap such as a tree, gully, or rock band.

    (3/16/2022)

    Loose dry avalanche triggered on a steep, northeast facing slope in the Northern Wallowas. The top of the avalanche was at 7500' . The slope angle in the start zone was steeper than 35 degrees.

    Photo: TG

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