Avalanche forecast

Avalanche forecast

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

8-10 inches of new snow came in Monday with impressive, strong winds gusting almost to 50 mph out of the South/Southwest. Some areas have had all of the new snow stripped off down to the crust and thus other areas are potentially 16-20 inches deep. Approach slopes that are steeper than 30 degrees with caution today...Watch for sensitive wind slabs in leeward terrain. The new snow will likely move in the form of loose dry sluffs on steeper slopes, especially solar aspects where the snow is sitting on a slicker crust.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds were strong Monday as the storm dumped 8-10 inches of snow. Gusts at the Granite weather station reached almost 50 mph.  Today, you may encounter some sensitive wind slabs in exposed and leeward terrain, and more will likely form today under moderate gusts.

    The majority of the wind came out of the SW, but use caution on all aspects as local terrain can influence wind loading in a completely different manner. If you are seeing cracking in the snow surface and or are hearing woomphing sounds in the snow, turn around or find another, safer route.

    (4/4/2022)

    The wind was stripping snow off the crusty old snow surface and piling it up in a lot of wind-exposed terrains Monday afternoon like here in this photo near Fisher Creek saddle at about 7,300 feet.

    Photo: GH

  • Loose Dry

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

    The colder, new snow is dry, and is going to be moving on steep slopes. The old snow surface was a slick crust...If you are riding terrain that is between 35 and 45 degrees you are likely going to get the snow to sluff or move with you.  Loose dry snow may push you into exposed terrain with consequences like rocks, gullies, or other terrain traps. 

Avalanche Discussion

Today's advisory is sponsored by  Franklin Building Supply just South of McCall on highway 55. Thank you for supporting the Payette Avalanche Center!

Easing into terrain steeper than 30 degrees is going to be a good idea today. Recent winds were enough to scare every living thing in the mountains, gusting almost 50 miles an hour. Winds are forecasted to gust into the moderate range today which will do a good job of adding additional wind sabs.

Prior to this latest new snow, we got Monday, the snow surface was crusty and frozen. The crust is slicker on solar aspects and punchy and degrading on Northern aspects. Cold temps today, and clouds will keep the loose dry problem on your radar in steep terrain where it may require you to manage your sluff.

Temps are forecasted to rise significantly Wednesday and Thursday which along with the Sun will get some snow to warm and produce some wet-loose avalanches on solar aspects.

 

***We will issue our last avalanche advisory for the season on Saturday, April 9th, 2022.