Avalanche forecast

Salmon River Mountains

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

2 nights in a row with a lack of freezing at upper elevations and direct sunshine this afternoon will impact steep slopes.  Wet loose natural avalanches are likely and human triggered avalanches are possible within the upper 6-12 inches of the snowpack. Triggering the upper snowpack could overload deeper weak layers and release a slab avalanche.

Slopes steeper than 30 degrees should be evaluated first, especially when under direct sun. If you are seeing fresh avalanches and or sinking in past your boots, find another lower angle slope and or another aspect out of the direct sun.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Yesterday, larger, natural wet-loose avalanches were reported on steep east slopes late in the afternoon. These avalanches are likely again today. Wet, loose avalanches begin at a point, usually the base of a warm rock or tree, and fan out, picking up snow as they move. 

    Wet-loose avalanches are most problematic in confined terrain or on steep slopes, where they can accumulate large amounts of snow. Rollerballs, or small snowballs peeling off steep terrain, can be a helpful clue that the snow surface is weakening and that wet slides may occur. These avalanches can gouge deeper into the snowpack, triggering a larger avalanche.

    CORNICES

    Overnight temperatures are staying above freezing. Give all cornices a wide margin, and be careful along ridgelines as they can break further back than expected. Limit exposure under or adjacent to them. With warm overnight temperatures and more direct March sunshine, a cornice fall is currently one of the more likely ways to trigger a larger avalanche. 

    (3/18/2026) Photo from 4:00pm Photo: Thanks to Brian Peters :)

Avalanche Discussion

Strange warm record breaking temps may call for some added insurance today some pros may say. Forecasting wet avalanches are difficult and uncertain as to the exact timing of release...As always, spread out if you enter avalanche terrain and keep your eyes on your partners from true safe spots well away from runout of a large avalanche. Little funny slides during times like these can add up or snowball quickly and be a huge problem on big slopes and in terrain traps like gullies, creeks, and cliffs and rocky thin terrain.

At upper elevations there has been a lot of wind effect on the snow surface.  Some of this snow may have weak connections that are challenged by the freak warming. Look for clues of wind-affected snow, such as drifts, dunes, pillows, and freshly built cornices. Watch for signs of instability such as shooting cracks from your skis, board, or sled. If you're observing signs of a wind slab, find another aspect away from wind-drifted snow. Strong winds and local terrain features can alter the prevailing wind direction. This recent observation from Lick Creek documents a wind-slab avalanche on a cross-loaded slope. Pay attention to cross-loading and wind-loading on unsuspecting slopes. 

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION: Triggering a large persistent slab avalanche is unlikely yet warm temps and the weight of loose debris could cause a step-down to deeper weak layers. Weak snow sits about 2–3 feet deep (1.5–2 feet deep around West Mountain). This layer slid in the majority of steep terrain yet may still linger in areas. This layer of buried surface hoar is responsible for many large avalanches in February, mainly on wind-loaded terrain that faces NW–NE–E above 7,500 feet. 

If you're out in the mountains, submit an observation on our website or through the Avy App. Tag us #payetteavy

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