Avalanche forecast

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Wet snow avalanches will remain possible today as temperatures and sun warm the snow surface.   Monitor the thickness and supportability of surface crusts and avoid steep terrain if you encounter wet, sloppy snow that is more than ankle-deep.  Plan your day to avoid traveling on or under steep sun-affected slopes in the afternoon.   

This forecast is sponsored by Eagle Cap Mountain Guides. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Last night, the mountains saw freezing temperatures for the first time since the evening of March 16th.    The warm temperatures we have seen over the last week have destabilized the upper snowpack as meltwater drained through the upper part of the snowpack.  The most likely type of avalanche to trigger today will be a wet loose avalanche on steep sunny slopes. 

    When warming melts the upper snowpack,  water can pool at a crust or a weak layer, which can create a wet slab avalanche.  Wet slab avalanches are difficult to predict, but almost always destructive.  Avoidance of suspect slopes (steep, rocky, unsupported E-S-W) during or just after a big warmup is your best defense. 

    Below-freezing temperatures and clear night skies have helped to cool the snowpack, but it will take some additional time to stabilize.   

    • Monitor the thickness and supportability of surface crusts as the day progresses.  
    • Dig down to see if you can identify where the recent meltwater has pooled in the middle of the snowpack.    
    • Be particularly cautious on sun-affected slopes or very steep slopes with rock outcroppings. 
    • If you see roller-balls, signs of recent avalanches, or find yourself sinking into wet, unconsolidated snow, move to lower-angle terrain until temperatures drop and the snowpack can stabilize.

     

    (3/7/2026) Photo: Wallowa Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Those who have been tracking the conditions along with us may be wondering, what happened to the persistent slab problem? Warming trends over the past week have almost eliminated the Valentine's Day Buried Surface Hoar layer, which was one of the persistent weak layers that we were tracking. The deeper persistent layers, the January Facets (down 2-4 feet deep), are still around, but with five consecutive days of unseasonably high temperatures, the biggest concern is now water pooling on these crust/facet layers and causing the now wet and consolidated slab above it to release.   

What is on the menu today?   Wet snow avalanches come in a couple of different flavors: 

  •  Wet-loose avalanches can be found today on solar aspects in steep and rocky terrain.  They will increase in likelihood as the temperatures warm.   Avoid travelling on or below solar facing, very steep, rocky terrain where wet-loose avalanches are most likely.  Wet loose avalanches would be smaller than wet slab avalanches, but can carry consequences as they could push you over exposed terrain or into a terrain trap.  

  • Wet Slab avalanches release as a cohesive slab of snow, and are notoriously destructive and difficult to forecast.  Although the likelihood of triggering such an avalanche may be decreasing, the consequences could still be catastrophic. Be particularly cautious on sun-affected slopes, and if you see roller-balls, recent wet loose avalanches, or find yourself sinking into wet, unconsolidated snow, move to lower-angle terrain.

Be mindful of Large cornices along exposed ridgelines that have become weak during the latest warmup.  Give corniced ridgelines a wide berth, and minimize your exposure time if you must travel underneath overhanging cornices.  

Timing and preparedness is critical in springtime adventures.   Pre-plan your travel routes and have the right equipment for the expected conditions.  It is important to recognize that warmed snow surfaces can become firm and slick when they refreeze.  Consider carrying crampons and an ice axe if you plan to travel over refrozen surfaces- especially in terrain of consequence.   As the day progresses, temperatures and sun will rewarm the snowpack, increasing the chances of wet snow avalanches.  A good rule of thumb in the spring is to get an early start- and get an early finish to your day.

Let's paint this picture together.  Let us know what you are seeing out there through an observation.  It doesn't need to be complex or technical- just a few pictures and a description of what you encountered is super helpful to forecasters.  

Beacon Parks:  The beacon parks at Salt Creek Summit and Anthony Lakes remain a great resource to practice your companion rescue skills.  As the snowpack continues to melt, if you notice targets becoming uncovered, please get in touch with us so that we can remove them.  

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