Avalanche forecast

Northern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

A combination of high winds and rapid solar warming will increase the avalanche danger this afternoon.  This could create fresh slabs of wind drifted snow and wet loose sluffs, both of which could trigger a deadly avalanche in deeper old snow.  Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, looking for blowing snow or snowball-worthy sticky snow, and avoid features of concern.  

Leave yourself a margin of time so you are out of the field well before a wet and hot system arrives this evening, spiking avalanche danger.    

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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Old windslabs from early in the week have largely healed, but there is still plenty of soft snow available for transport.  Gusty Moderate to Strong  SW and S winds by midday may create a fresh batch of sensitive windslabs. 

    Look for textured, rippled or unusually smooth surfaces.  Feel for hollow or drum-like sounds, or snow that suddenly supports your skis, board or machine.  Avoid these features in avalanche terrain.   But take photos!

    (2/20/2025)

    D2 Windslab Avalanche released naturally likely on 2/19.  Note the wind-loading just below a corniced ridgeline. 

    Photo: Victor McNeil

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    There is uncertainty on daytime warming today, so monitor cloud cover to anticipate this problem.  This can change within hours or minutes.  If you find yourself in snow that is sloppy or see rollerballs, avoid riding above or below exposed rocks or near terrain traps - or just move to a shadier aspect where the riding will likely be more enjoyable.  

    (12/18/2024) Rollerballs from wet loose avalanche activity.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    While becoming increasingly less likely, it is still not out of the question to trigger a very large avalanche on the weak January facets (and buried surface hoar in some locations) that sit 2-4' below the snow surface.  Observers are finding mixed results in their snowpack tests, and in many places, the snowpack structure is missing a firmer bed surface that could increase the likelihood.   

    Treat this problem as a "low-likelihood/high-consequence" possibility and evaluate consequential terrain on a slope-scale level.   A smaller windslab or possibly a wet loose avalanche could step down to create a very large and dangerous slide.  

    (2/20/2025)

    This natural avalanche was reported along the Anthony Lakes Highway at an elevation below 6,000.  It was reported to have failed on the January facets.  Photo: Logan Kerns

    Photo: Wallowa Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

What's the weather doing? 

6-8" of snow from early in the week drifted on Wednesday night into windslabs 6-10+" thick.  These are unlikely to avalanche, but on the surface, they may look like the same texture as possibly sensitive windslabs forming this afternoon.  In the N Wallowas, these could form in lower or typically sheltered areas.  Even a short blast of sun or warming could increase the reactivity of these windslabs or create small wet loose slides in terrain >35 deg. 

What can we do about it? 

Hand shears, as well as riding over or ski cutting small (inconsequential) test slopes will give you rapid and repeatable information on the location of a new slab or loose snow problem.   

Leave yourself route options to easily retreat if the middle of the day gets hot.

Use terrain to your advantage and manage your group well. 

You can't get caught up in an avalanche if you aren't in avalanche terrain.  Evaluate the terrain carefully, and if you decide to engage in avalanche terrain, manage your communication and your partners well.  Only expose one person at a time to avalanche-prone slopes, keep eyes on them, and regroup in areas that are well clear of the runout of an avalanche path.  

It's been great to see all of the recent observations.  Keep 'em coming.  Add value to your forecast.  Submit an observation here.  

 

 

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