Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist today throughout the mountains of Northeast Oregon. It might be possible to trigger a small, loose wet avalanche on southeast, south, and southwest facing terrain steeper than 35 degrees during the afternoon hours, especially terrain adjacent to or connected to rocky terrain features. The best strategy for avoiding avalanche activity today is to get on the snow early while it is firm. By early afternoon, if/when the snow you are recreating upon starts to become soggy and unstable, it is time to move to lower angle terrain,  or slopes that are in the shade. Shady slopes would include northwest, north, and northeast  facing slopes. Keep in mind that north facing terrain at and above treeline may remain firm all day. A fall on a steep, firm north facing slope could  end up turning into a fast, uncontrollable, and consequential slide.

Forecast presented by @onxbackcountry. onX Backcountry is a GPS navigation and mapping tool designed with your backcountry objectives in mind, equipped with Avalanche Forecast and Slope Angle layers, Offline Maps and more.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    The mountains got a hard freeze Tuesday night which made for firm and stable conditions all morning on Wednesday, all aspects and elevations above 6000' , in the Northern Wallowas where I happened to be ski touring. The temperatures got down into the mid teens and low twenties at weather stations throughout the region this morning and temps are forecasted to be at or slightly below freezing all day today (forecasted high 38 degrees for the Blues). Therefore, I expect to see mostly firm snow and generally safe avalanche conditions  today as well, particularly this morning and early this afternoon. Watch for unstable snow on steep south, southwest, and south facing terrain this afternoon, especially on terrain connected to, or adjacent to, rocky terrain features. The snow around these rocky terrain features tends to warm up and become unstable as temperatures rise. It could be possible today for a recreationalist to trigger a small wet loose avalanche in this steep, solar facing, rocky terrain. As stated above, getting on the steep sunny slopes early in the morning, and off the steep sunny slopes early in the afternoon assures the recreationalist the best chance of avoiding avalanche activity.

    (3/24/2022)

    Examples of Wet Loose Avalanche on a South Southeast aspect on March 24th, 2022.  

    Photo: Victor McNeil

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    When traveling along ridgelines today, think about staying well back from the edge of the ridge unless you are certain that the slope edge is not an overhanging cornice. The relatively warm springtime temperatures can weaken cornices, causing them to fail with the added extra weight of a human. Keep in mind that cornices tend to break further back from slope edges than you might think. 

    (3/17/2022)

    Cornices on east facing terrain at about 8400' .

    Photo: TG

Avalanche Discussion

As I mentioned above, while ski touring in the Northern Wallowas on Wednesday, I encountered supportable snow and good stability on all aspects and elevations. These conditions were the byproduct of a hard freeze Tuesday night and below freezing temperatures Wednesday. I expect snow conditions to be similar today as well. Do keep in mind that slopes above treeline today may remain firm all day long, especially north facing slopes. That means that a fall on a steep and firm slope could end up being a consequential, hideous, high speed, uncontrollable slide. Before you commit to that steep and firm slope, think about the potential consequences of a fall.

Regions covered