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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger will rise through the day as the Sun and warm temps will create wet loose avalanches in the upper 3-8".

Wet slab avalanches are possible as temperatures and wet loose activity increase throughout the day. 

Use caution on slopes steeper than 35 degrees, especially on Solar aspects in the afternoon. If you are seeing rollerballs or other recent avalanches, and are sinking into the snow above your boot tops, find another aspect that is cooler and that is not getting direct sun to travel on.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Yesterday and Last night, temps were warm (upper 40s in the mountains). The Snotel site at Secesh Summit only dropped down to 35 degrees F. With a lack of an overnight freeze we will see a little more wet loose avalanche activity mostly in the D-1 relatively harmless range, but it is possible near terrain traps like gullies or cliffs and rocks, in and around large sustained slopes to have an avalanche big enough to bury or injure you (D-2). Stay clear of overhead avalanche hazard as the day heats up and causes wet loose avalanches on solar aspects.

     

    (3/18/2024) D-1 Wet loose Avalanche Below the road just North of Brundage at 6500’ West aspect. Photo: George Halcom

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Predicting a wet slab avalanche is a known difficult task.  Our snowpack is fairly strong yet the possibility of water in the snowpack helping release a wet slab naturally can not be ruled out nor can the possibility of you triggering a wet slab avalanche in the upper foot of the snowpack.

    Utilize good travel protocols like one at a time on steep solar aspects, and if you are seeing wet loose avalanches and or rollerballs choosing a lower angle slope and or another aspect is going to put you in a much safer place and give you better odds.

    With the heat of the Sun and above normal temps upwards of 15 degrees, give room and extra caution near cornices as they are hanging over and are prone to failing with the heat and your added weight.

Avalanche Discussion

Today's advisory is sponsored by Mile High Powersports just South of McCall on Highway 55. They are all helpful and friendly and along with Skidoo provide a snowmobile so that we can access the mountain snowpack...Thank You Mile High!