Avalanche forecast

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Actively drifting snow may cause large avalanches to release on their own. Triggering a 1-4 foot thick avalanche is likely, particularly in areas exposed to the wind. You may trigger avalanches remotely — from flat terrain below, above, and to the sides of steep slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Freshly formed slabs rest on a mix of weak snow surfaces, including facets, surface hoar, and crust + facet combinations on slopes that face the sun. The widespread nature of this weak layer means avalanches may be easy to trigger on many aspects and elevations. 

    Conditions are most dangerous where wind-blown snow forms thick, stiff slabs at the snow's surface. Avalanches are also possible on steep slopes at middle and low elevations that are more sheltered from the wind.  

    Persistent Slabs can release in surprising ways, break wider than expected, and release hundreds of feet away from where they are triggered. Remotely triggering an avalanche from flat terrain in the valley bottom is a real possibility. Keep a close eye on your partner and the terrain that's above you.

    Additional Discussion: While less likely, avalanches may fail in weak snow near the ground. The resulting avalanche would be large enough to destroy a house. This scenario is most likely on shaded NW-N-NE facing slopes above about 8,000'. 

    (12/1/2024) This is an example of the wide, large avalanches you could trigger. This slide occurred in the N. Boulders after our last significant storm. 

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

36-hr storm totals for this zone are 8-23" (0.7-1.8" SWE), heavily favoring the western and southern portions of the zone including the mountains above the South Fork Boise and Smiley Ck. Yesterday's snowf fell with light to moderate S and SE wind. A cold frontal passage last night brought a temporary uptick in wind speed and a shift to the SW and W. 

Today, caution is the name of the game. We built slabs on a shaky foundation, and the safe bet is to assume they won't play nicely with the myriad of weak layers they rest on (see examples below.) 

Seeking out softer snow and lower-angle terrain is a good approach, but don't overlook the possibility of triggering a slide from the base of a slope. Build a wide safety margin today as buried weak layers adjust to the load.

Regions covered