Avalanche forecast

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Moderate winds and snow available for transport will likely build wind slabs today. Watch for signs of wind loading, and avoid steep terrain below ridgelines and cornices if you find evidence of wind effected snow. 

This forecast is sponsored by the Wallowa County Gamblers Snowmobile Club. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Moderate winds from the west are forecasted to continue into the afternoon today, as new snow continues to fall. This new snow is cold and light enough for the wind to move and may build wind slabs at middle and upper elevations. Winds have been light overall this week, and observations confirm a lack of significant wind slab activity, however, conditions indicate the potential to build new slabs this morning into the afternoon. Monitor the winds and snow surface carefully and note signs of drifting, pillow formations or fresh cornice. Shooting cracks, like the one pictured, are a textbook sign of windslabs. Hollow, drumlike sounds are also good indicators. Avoid wind loaded avalanche terrain if you observe any of these.  

    Photo: Caleb Merrill

Avalanche Discussion

While the avalanche danger may be moderate uncertainty is high and warrants its own conversation. Forecasters have been monitoring several buried crusts in the snowpack and small facets have been observed around these crusts. We do not have the evidence or likelihood to warrant forecasting a persistent slab problem, however, we do have concerning snowpack structure and a very large amount of uncertainty due to freezing levels and spatial variability. Now is not the time for aggressive terrain choices, even if the surface instabilities appear manageable. If you're interested in digging, please send us an observation! Notable information includes the depth of any crusts, and the hardness of the snow above and below these crusts, as well as amounts of snow you encounter at various elevations.

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