Avalanche forecast

Salmon River Mountains

Payette Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Another storm is bringing heavy, wet snowfall, strong winds, and rising rain/snow levels to the region. New storm snow is falling on a mixed bag of crusts and buried weak layers. Expect to find dense slabs 1-2 feet thick, especially in wind-loaded terrain. By this afternoon, I would avoid avalanche terrain above 7,500 feet.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Snow totals throughout the day could range from 10-20 inches above 7,000 feet. Rising temperatures and rising rain/snow levels will create storm slabs that feel upside-down (similar to our recent storm last week). Yesterday, during a cold, clear day, weak snow (surface hoar and near-surface facets) formed at the snow surface. These weak layers are now being buried. All of this new snow has fallen on a shallow snowpack with slick crusts and older weak snow (facets from October & November). Triggering a storm slab 1-2 feet thick will be very likely by this afternoon. Avalanches could step down deeper in the snowpack and be more difficult to manage. Storm slabs will be deepest and most reactive above 7,500 feet on north and east-facing terrain, in areas that are affected by the wind. 

    Watch for obvious signs of instability, such as shooting cracks and collapsing of weak layers (whumpfing). If you find Mother Nature screaming in your ear today, make sure to listen.  By this afternoon, I would avoid avalanche terrain above 7,500 feet.

Avalanche Discussion

Our snowpack is becoming increasingly tempermental. Rain then snow, snow then rain, warm temperatures, cold temperatures, and back again. Enduring consistently strange weather events of the past several weeks, the snowpack is wondering which way is up and which is down. We now have slick crusts, multiple buried weak layers, and are now adding another round of heavy load to the snowpack. The odds are not in your favor to thread the needle today. As snowfall stacks up today, I would plan to stay away from steep slopes above 7,500 feet. 

Recent observations noted a reactive snowpack with crusts and buried weak layers. You can read those observations HERE.

Help us paint a picture of our evolving snowpack across a large area. Even general information, such as snowpack depth on a given aspect, can help inform our forecast and the broader community. Drop us an ob below:

Submit an online observation HERE

  • Tag us #payetteavy
  • Download the Avy App HERE

Regions covered