Avalanche forecast

Salmon River Mountains

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The avalanche hazard will rise to Considerable as a lack of freezing overnight and afternoon warming and direct sunshine impacts steep slopes.  Wet loose human triggered avalanches are likely within the upper 6-12 inches of the snowpack and could step down to deeper layers and release a slab avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Yesterday, wet loose avalanches were reported on steep slopes. These avalanches are likely again today, especially below 7,000, where temperatures have remained warm, or on steep slopes on the south half of the compass (E-S-W). 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. They 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. 

    (3/17/2026)

    Soft snow in the sun on the west aspect of Lookout peak at 7500' with weak snow under the most recent crust.

    Photo: George Halcom

  • Wind Slabs

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

    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. Weak snow sits about 2–3 feet deep (1.5–2 feet deep around West Mountain). This layer is responsible for many large avalanches in February, mainly on wind-loaded terrain that faces NW–NE–E above 7,500 feet. 

    (3/17/2026)

    Natural D-2 Wind Slab Avalanche on Sheep Peak, North 778'.

    Photo: George Halcom

Avalanche Discussion

 

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