Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Rain on snow will weaken the upper snowpack structure and increase the likelihood of natural and human triggered wet avalanches.  If the snowpack becomes saturated by rain, stay off of slopes steeper than 35 degrees and stay away from terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, and other terrain features where even a small avalanche could push you into consequential terrain.  

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Up to an inch of rain is expected in the Blue Mountains with a freezing level of up to 7500'.   If the forecast pans out, the rain will weaken the upper snowpack and cause an increase in likelihood of wet loose avalanches.  Look for signs of wet loose avalanches such as pinwheels and rollerballs.  These avalanches may often start in steep, rocky terrain 35 degrees or steeper and fan out onto lower angle slopes.  While they may not run very fast, the wet nature of these avalanches could easily knock you off your feet or machine and drag you into consequential terrain or obstacles.  

    An example of wet loose avalanche activity

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2

    The snowpack of the Blues hold many crust layers where water percolating through the upper snowpack could pool and create a wet slab avalanche.  The warm temperatures over the last week have consolidated the snow above these crusts into cohesive slabs.   While less likely than the wet loose avalanche problem, there remains the possibility of wet slab avalanches in the upper snowpack.  Wet slabs can be quite unpredictable, so the best tactic is avoidance of avalanche terrain.  Wait to recreate in avalanche terrain until temperatures drop back below freezing.  

Avalanche Discussion

You can see an observation below from last week of the snowpack structure and crusts in the Blues.  If the forecasted freezing levels pan out, carefully monitor how wet the snow surface is getting.  If you start to see 6" of saturated snow, it is a good time to leave the mountains.  Do not venture into terrain that is steeper than 30 degrees, and stay out from under avalanche paths.  The likelihood of wet avalanches should decrease with a drop in temperature tonight into tomorrow. 

Please submit any observations of wet avalanche activity- or any other snow and weather obsevations- here. 

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