Avalanche forecast

Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Wet avalanches large enough to destroy vehicles and structures are very likely to release naturally this afternoon and evening. Avalanches may impact roadways, trails, and structures on the valley floor. The threat of huge, destructive avalanches will peak from about 2-8 PM. Stay off of and out from beneath steep slopes.  

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Large, wet loose avalanches will release naturally on many slopes today. Given last night's weak or non-existent freeze, today's sunny skies and warm temperatures will turn the snowpack to mush. Conditions will become increasingly dangerous throughout the day.

    Natural and human-triggered avalanches are most likely when slopes are receiving direct sunshine, but high temperatures near or above 50F will prolong the threat of large slides into the evening, even on more northerly-facing, shadier slopes. Stay off of and out from beneath steep slopes after the thin surface crusts melt.  

     

    (4/6/2023) Widespread wet loose avalanches were observed in the Sawtooth Mountains on Thursday, April 6. There is still a lot of dry snow that will be coming down off the mountains in the coming days.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Huge, destructive wet slab avalanches will become likely this afternoon and evening (see Grays Peak photo to right/above and Pole Creek photo below). Wet avalanches do not need human triggers to occur; they release on their own far more frequently than dry avalanches.  

    Accurately predicting slope-scale stability for wet slab problems is one step short of voodoo. All bets are off - don't try to outsmart them. Stay off of and out from beneath large avalanche paths, especially during the heat of the day and this evening.   

    (4/9/2023) This monster slab avalanche released naturally on the SW face of Grays Peak on Sunday, April 9th.

Regions covered