Avalanche forecast

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Human-triggered avalanches involving layers of weak snow buried 2-2.5 feet down are possible. Last night, 2-6 inches of snow fell with moderate winds and created fresh wind drifts along ridgelines and exposed terrain. You can significantly reduce risk by steering clear of recently wind-affected terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    What is it? Overnight a storm brought 2-6 inches of lightweight snow, accompanied by moderate winds from the NW. Expect wind-affected snow across much of the exposed middle and upper elevations, which overlays various weak layers (crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar).  Newer slabs likely formed over older generations of hard slabs.  These older slabs were beginning to show signs of stabilizing before throwing an additional load on top of them. 

    Where is it? Look for wind-affected snow near ridgelines, on the sides of gullies or chutes, and aprons below cliffs and couloirs. Northwest winds transported snow onto several crusts with facets that formed on south-facing slopes. The wind-drifted snow adds more weight to these layers, stressing them. The craggy nature of the Sawtooth Mountains allows recent gusty winds to transport snow to where it piles up on the sides of couloirs and below cliffs in alpine bowls (reference photo).

    How can you recognize it? Cracks shooting out from your skis or sled are an obvious sign of instability. Watch for drifts, dunes, and ripples on the snow surface. Wind slabs can have a smooth, chalky appearance and feel and sound hollow, like a drum. Wind-deposited snow will be stiffer and keep your skis or snowmobile on or closer to the surface.       

    How can you manage it? The easy move is to avoid wind-loaded slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. Hard slab avalanches can behave unpredictably, breaking above skiers and riders.Slabs overlaying weak snow can break well above you on the slope and may break wider than you expect.

    (2/6/2023) This small wind slab failed on an ESE-facing slope at 9,100' near McDonald Peak.

Avalanche Discussion

A STORM BRINGS CHANGE

Overnight a storm brought 2-6 inches of lightweight snow, accompanied by moderate winds from the NW. The bulk of the snow amounts likely fell on the western side of the Sawtooths and down into the western Smoky mountains. The winds likely had a "field day," moving this light-density snow around the mountains. Be on the lookout for fresh wind-affected snow building a slab over several weak layers in the upper 1.5-2.5 feet as the winds continue through the day. 

With the additional snow and wind-loading, a slab continues to build over these weak layers. Several crusts with facets formed on south-facing slopes are becoming stressed with this additional load. Field observations and small triggered slides in neighboring zones indicate that these layers can produce avalanches when loaded with the right slab.

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