Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago.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

Highlights

Warm temperatures and sunny skies will impact the snow surface today increasing the possibility of triggering  wet loose avalanches on sunny aspects in steep terrain.  If you find yourself sinking up to your boot tops while skinning or walking off of your machine, it's time to move to lower angle slopes and shadier aspects.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Temperatures are forecasted to be in the low 40's today with plenty of sun in the sky to warm up the snow surface.  This will create the potential to trigger a wet loose avalanche in the new snow.   The new snow sits atop crusts on south and west aspects that will make an ideal bed surface for wet loose avalanches.  Likely places to trigger a wet loose avalanche will be near rocks and on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.  If you see signs of the new snow becoming uncohesive such as pinwheels/rollerballs, point releases out of steep rocky areas, or sinking up to your boot tops in wet loose snow, it is time to seek lower angle terrain on a shadier aspect.  Make an exit plan where you can avoid travelling underneath solar aspects in the afternoon hours.  

    Example of wet loose avalanche and roller balls. 

Avalanche Discussion

Reports from observers in the Blues indicate there is about 6-8" of storm snow from this last week sitting atop a stout melt freeze crust.  A mostly consolidated snowpack has been reported below this crust.  There are also reports of previous wind loading along North and East facing ridgelines.  If seeing signs of recent wind loading such as pillowy rounded domes or corniced ridgelines, avoid these areas.  

Thank you for the recent observations.  Keep them coming by submiting an observation here. 

Happening this weekend......The Eastern Oregon Backcountry Festival at Anthony Lakes! 

Today's events include: 

  • WAC forecasting team led ski/splitboard tours into Angel Basin

More information on the events for the weekend can be found here.

Online Auction and Raffle -Similar to last winter we are having an online auction and raffle with some amazing prizes.  Thanks to all of the local generosity for putting together some sweet donation items.  You can go to the Auction here.  All proceeds will help cover the cost of avalanche forecasting this winter.  Also, be sure to check out some of our new WAC Apparel in our online store.  

Forecast presented by @onxbackcountry. onXbackcountry is a GPS navigation and mapping tool designed with your backcountry objectives in mind, equipped with Avalanche Forecast and Slope Angle layers, Offline maps and more.

 

 

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