Avalanche forecast

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Wind-drifted new snow sitting above a firm crust could be sensitive to the weight of a rider today along upper-elevation exposed ridgelines.  Avoid wind-loaded terrain.  In steeper upper-elevation terrain, dry loose avalanches within new snow could also be triggered by a rider.  While they will likely be small, they could push you off your feet and over consequential terrain.  

This forecast is sponsored by The Trailhead- Baker City.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Small dry loose avalanches or "sluffs" will be possible in terrain greater than 35 degrees in steepness where new unconsolidated snow sits above a firm crust.  These will likely not be big enough to bury you, but could knock you off your feet and carry you over consequential terrain.   Use hand pits to dig below the newest snow and see how firm the old snow surface is.  Use small test slopes to see how reactive these dry loose avalanches may be. 

    (3/29/2024)

    Example of a skier triggered small dry loose avalanche terrain steeper than 30 degrees. 

    Photo: Caleb Merrill

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    2-5" of new snow fell in the mountains late yesterday after the rain turned to snow.  Winds were mostly out of the Southwest but became a bit shifty overnight with some stronger gusts.  If you travel into upper elevations today, look for evidence of wind loading in exposed terrain.  Good visual clues will be rippled textured snow, deeper pillows just below ridgelines, and fresh cornice development.   Look for cracking in the new snow.  You can use small inconsequential test slopes to see how reactive wind-loaded pockets may be.  The warm temperatures over the last few days developed a crust on which these wind-loaded pockets of snow could run.   Avoid wind-loaded steeper terrain.  

    (2/19/2024)

    Textured snow are a good indication of wind slab development

    Photo: Wallowa Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Today will be a day of weather and snowpack transition as temperatures and snow levels continue to drop and 1-4" of new snow is possible.  Be observant in your travels.  In addition to being aware of wind slabs and dry loose avalanches, if you find 6" or more of new snow has accumulated, evaluate how well this new snow has bonded to the old snow surface.  Use hand pits to look for slab development and see how easily it might slip off of the most recent melt-freeze crust.  Ride or ski over small inconsequential test slopes to test for reactivity.  If you are finding stiffer slabs of snow are reactive on a crust, avoid riding on terrain steeper than 30 degrees. 

Throughout Monday and Tuesday, very warm temperatures and the strong effects of the sun melted surface snow and pooled water at various depths in the upper snowpack.  If you are traveling in the mountains today, take the time to dig down to see where this water has pooled.  As temperatures continue to drop, this wetter snow should lock up if it hasn't already happened.  At lower elevations, if you find areas where the new snow covers wet saturated snow that is cohesionless, avoid venturing into steeper terrain- especially terrain traps such as creekbeds and gullies.  

Cornices have grown dangerously large and warmer temperatures weakened them.  They can break further back than you think.   Give cornices a wide berth, and use clues along the ridgelines such as trees and rocks to make sure you have solid ground below your feet or machine.  

Deeper Persistent Weak layers still exist in our snowpack.  Waking up one of these giants would take a good dose of bad luck, but not altogether off the table.  To hedge your bets, avoid shallow snowpack areas in very steep, alpine rocky terrain.  

If you are out in the mountains, add value to your avalanche forecast by submitting observations here.  

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