Avalanche forecast

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Traveling in avalanche terrain requires a cautious and conservative approach today because triggering a large avalanche is likely. If you find that you’re riding or sliding in new snow deeper than 6 inches, especially in wind-affected locations, be on the lookout for cracking or collapsing as obvious signs to choose mellower slopes.

We will issue our last daily Avalanche Forecast of the season this Sunday, April 5th. We will issue General Avalanche Information updates through late April or early May.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Triggering a large 2-3' thick wind slab is likely today in exposed upper and middle elevation terrain. Plumes of ridgetop snow, recent cornice growth, pillows, and dunes are all clues that wind was at work moving snow. These slabs are expected to be found beneath ridgelines, on the sides of cross-loaded gullies, and lower in cirques below large cliff bands, chutes, and couloirs.

    Look for shooting cracks and feel for firm or hollow drum-like surfaces as evidence of fresh wind slabs and a nudge to move to softer snow on more sheltered slopes.

    (2/19/2026)

    Large avalanche on Eureka Pk in the same area as human-triggered slides from (2/9). NE @ 9,900'.

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

  • Loose Dry

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

    On more sheltered slopes, the combination of 6-12 inches of uncohesive new snow and firm old snow surfaces could result in natural and easily triggered dry loose avalanches. Loose avalanches may run faster and further than you expect given the underlying firm surfaces from our previous week or two of warm weather. These “sluffs” may start out small but can gain momentum and volume as they move downslope, carrying you somewhere that you may not want to go. Avoid travelling above terrain that amplifies the consequence of being caught (aka terrain traps) and choose mellower slope angles if the sluffing is getting out of hand.

    (4/1/2026)

    Small natural loose avalanches on Saviers Peak observed on April 1, 2026.

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

This may well be the last powder day of the season, but don’t let the relative scarcity of snow this year get to your head—it's western out there today, and there are still real consequences to triggering or being caught in avalanches. The inherent volatility of spring storms and the variability of new snow distributions during these events add uncertainty to our mental hazard equation. Larger amounts of uncertainty lead us to build in larger margins for error. We build these margins by having multiple route options planned and minimizing our exposure to the hazard by traveling through avalanche terrain one at a time. Being extra aware of changing conditions and obvious signs of instability are key skills to apply if you’re out playing in this distinctly spring-style storm today.

Regions covered