Avalanche forecast

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You're most likely to trigger a large avalanche in windier upper elevations and on shadier slopes that face away from the afternoon sun. You may be able to trigger slides remotely—from flat terrain below, above, and to the sides of steep slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–2.5

    Dense 2-3' thick slabs overlie weak layers, including sugary facets, surface hoar, and crust + facet combinations on many NW-N-NE-E aspects. Similar but spottier weak layers also exist on the margins of sunnier aspects.

    Persistent slab problems can be tricky to deal with. Don't count on obvious signs of instability like snowpack cracking or collapsing to indicate an unstable slope. Your first sign of instability may be the avalanche you trigger. Persistent slabs may be triggered remotely—from above, below, and to the sides of steep slopes. 

    Simply avoiding avalanche terrain where these slabs + weak layers exist is the best way to stack the odds in your favor. 

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wednesday and Thursday's quick-hitting storm built 1-2' thick drifts and slabs at upper elevations. Shifting wind directions mean slabs may be found on a variety of aspects, and some may extend down into windier middle elevation terrain.  

    Look for this problem near and just below exposed ridgelines and along cross-loaded mid-slope gullies. Recent cornice growth, pillows, and dunes are all clues that wind was at work moving snow.  Cracking and collapsing are sure indications that you've found a sensitive slab. You can reduce your odds of triggering a wind slab by sticking to more wind-sheltered slopes with soft powder at the surface. 

    Additional Discussion: If it's sunnier than expected,  wet loose avalanches could occur on slopes facing the sun. These are most likely in very steep, rocky, and wind-sheltered terrain. They will begin small but may quickly gain mass and speed as they move downhill over slick crusts. Roller balls or pinwheels are clues that the snow surface is heating up, and loose avalanches may follow. 

    (3/5/2026) Strong gusts of wind in the Frenchman's Drainage near Smiley Ck. 

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Finding  Wind Slabs is expected in exposed terrain. These should be relatively easy to spot and avoid. Look for wind-textured snow surfaces in exposed middle and upper elevations, using the cues listed above.

Additionally, across the advisory zone, we have multiple buried weak layers in the upper 1-3 feet of the snowpack. Triggering an avalanche on one of these layers is most likely on shaded, middle and upper-elevation slopes. The likelihood decreases if you find a thick, supportable crust about 6-10 inches below the snow surface on lower and some middle elevation slopes. Obvious signs of instability, such as cracking or collapsing, have become less reliable indicators of these deeper instabilities.

This problem cannot be managed with subtle terrain features. Entering steep, shaded terrain that lacks a stout crust 6-10 inches below the surface is rolling the dice. Unfortunately, the best way to reduce the odds of tangling with one of these avalanches is by continuing to avoid steep, shaded terrain.

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