Avalanche forecast

Northern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

It will be likely to trigger an avalanche up to 2' deep today at all elevations and aspects.   We have numerous layers of weak snow buried in the upper 8' of the snowpack that could produce a human-triggered avalanche.  If you see signs of instability such as recent avalanches, collapsing of the new snow, wind-drifted snow, or cracking in the new snow, move to terrain less than 30 degrees.  

Today's forecast is brought to you by Eagle Cap Mountain Guides.  

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Yesterday the buried surface hoar that was identified the day prior again produced alarming failures in our snowpack tests.  The surface hoar was found just over 2' deep and fully propagated in our extended column tests.  This persistent weak layer has been producing human-triggered avalanches over the past week, some of which have been remotely triggered.   Natural avalanches are possible today on slopes >30 degrees. 

    The surface hoar is a very sensitive weak layer that can be remotely triggered from slopes <30 degrees.  Your terrain margins need to increase greatly, as you could be parked in a flat meadow with a steep slope above you and not be in a safe location.    If you are traveling under avalanche terrain, limit your exposure, and only commit one person at a time.  

    Take the time to read through our recent observations here.  

    (1/14/2023) Photo: VM

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

     Wind slabs near and above the treeline will be possible today.  If you see signs of wind-drifted snow such as pillows, shooting cracks, cornice development, or dune-like formations in the snow stick to simpler terrain.  

    (1/7/2023)

    Photo shows some of the visual clues to look for when a wind slab problem is in the forecast.  

    Photo: VM

Avalanche Discussion

It's a jungle out there.  Not only do we have the aforementioned avalanche problems, but the deep persistent slab is still a potential problem.  A small to large avalanche within the new snow from the last week or a slab failing on the Christmas Rain Crust now buried up to 4' deep could trigger a much larger and much more destructive avalanche failing on weak faceted snow near the ground.  An avalanche of this magnitude would likely be unsurvivable.  Conservative terrain selection remains critical today.   Keep your slope angles low, watch your riding partners, and avoid even small avalanche paths.  At lower elevations, where warmer temperatures warmed the snowpack yesterday, small wet loose avalanches are also possible.   Check out the recent observations from the last two days in the Southern Wallowas on our observations page.  

Keep the observations coming.  Thank you for your recent submissions!  Submit an observation here. 

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