Avalanche forecast

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Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Today and tomorrow our mountains will see sunshine and above freezing temperatures.This warming will have a dramatic destabilizing effect on our relatively new snow from last week. Expect to see loose wet avalanche activity on steep sunny aspects as temperatures rise above freezing. When you start observing signs of instability (roller balls,pin wheels, and shallow sluffs)on the slope you are traveling on it is time to move off of or out from under effected slope and onto shaded terrain and terrain lower in angle than 35 degrees.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Sunshine and above freezing temperatures are in the forecast for today. These warm temperatures will warm the relatively new surface snow causing it to quickly lose strength. On south facing slopes steeper than 35 degrees it is likely that a rider will trigger a wet loose sluff. Signs that the snow is becoming unstable include the observance of roller balls/pin wheels on the surface of the snow and shallow loose wet sluffs. This is especially noticeable at and around steep, rocky areas. Another obvious sign of detrimental warming is water dripping off of snow laden tree limbs. When you start seeing these clues of instability in the upper snowpack it is time to move off steep sunny aspects and onto shady north facing aspects at and above treeline. Best safe practice when we are in this type of cycle is to get on the snow early in the morning and off the snow by early afternoon or when the aforementioned signs of instability are observed.

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Currently we have about 16" of relatively new snow from last week sitting on top of a well defined crust layer. I have observed this crust layer on east, south, and west facing aspects. As the snow warms up and starts melting, that melt water will percolate down into the new snow. When the melt water reaches the impermeable crust layer it will pool up on the crust and, in the process, dramatically weaken and actually lubricate the tenuous bond between the crust and the new snow above. On slopes steeper than 35 degrees this process could result in a wet slab avalanche. Though a wet slab avalanche moves slower than a dry slab avalanche it still packs a lot of wallop that could bury a person, carry a person into consequential terrain, or both.

  • Cornices

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

    Give cornices an extra dose of respect when traveling near ridgelines today and tomorrow. Cornices are inclined to brake further back from the slope edge than you might imagine. Expect that our warm weekend weather will have a weakening/destabilizing  effect on cornices much like the weakening/destabilizing effect it has on the snow surface we like to recreate upon.

Avalanche Discussion

Thanks to everyone who provided the WAC with valuable snow pack info and photos throughout our forecast area ! Your observations are extremely helpful and appreciated.

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