Avalanche forecast

Avalanche forecast

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The Avalanche Hazard throughout the West Central Mountains is Moderate today. Human triggered Loose dry avalanches are possible on steep slopes, especially where the new snow is resting on slick Sun Crusts. The Sun will likely induce wet-loose avalanches on Solar aspects as it warms up the new snow surface for the first time. 

 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Here we are in March. The strong Sun this time of year has a little more power, and will move snow when it gets on fresh powder that has not seen it. The new snow over the last 24 hours is going to shed in the form of wet-loose avalanches (especially where it formed on Sun crusts). As slopes pick up heat through the day, move to cooler aspects. Rollerballs or pinwheels are indicators that a slope is getting heated and unstable.

  • Loose Dry

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

    The new snow was moving yesterday on steep slopes as we skied. Over the last 24 hours we got around a foot of new snow at upper elevations. Our Southern portion of the advisory area picked up a little more.  If you are toeing the line near exposed terrain, keep in mind that the snow can move with you in terrain steeper than 30 degrees. Sluff management on steep slopes with exposure will help keep you from getting pushed into places like rocks, cliffs, and treewells.

    (3/8/2021) Graupel came down hard yesterday afternoon for a couple hours and was rolling downslopes and filling up our skintrack.

Avalanche Discussion

This past weeks warm temps and Sun have helped to strengthen the snowpack. Buried weak layers  have been a concern about 2-3 feet below the surface, and are still showing up in test pits but with no to very hard results with no signs of propigation potential.     Sun crusts formed just before this past storm cycle, and have shown poor signs of bonding new snow. Soft powder survived the warmup where slopes tipped to the North or the surface stayed shaded from trees or rockwalls.   Keep practicing good, safe travel protocols, especially in and around terrain steeper than 30 degrees. Check your aspect and slope angle regularly...Are you in avalanche terrain, and carrying a transciever, shovel and probe in your backpack?... Across the U. S. we have had 33 avalanche fatalities so far this year.  

If you see or trigger avalanche activity, please take the time to snap a picture and note the approximate elevation and aspect, you can submit an observation on our website. Getting your info helps forecasters and other users get a better picture of the conditions throughout our mountains. If you have trouble using our observations page, please email us at: [email protected]

  Please be mindful of other users in the mountains, and where you are at. There are closures for motorized travel in and around the local ski areas, in the Lick Creek Canyon,  Granite Mtn, Jug Mountain, and other areas throughout our region.  Check out the Winter Travel Map to find out where you can shred on your sled or moto.  Not all of these areas are signed, it is your responsibility to know where these closures exist.