Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Above-freezing temperatures and filtered sun will weaken the snow surface causing wet loose avalanches. These avalanches can occur on any slope steeper than 30 degrees where the snow has warmed. If you see rollerballs, pinwheels, or snow falling from trees, temperatures have warmed and it is time to seek colder or lower-angle slopes.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Changes in temperature and snow switching to rain have created crusty surfaces. These crusts allow new snow to slide downhill easily. As the day warms or snow switches to rain, the chance of a wet loose avalanche increases rapidly. Look for pinwheels, rollerballs and trees dripping as early signs things are warming up. If you observe these conditions seek slopes less than 30 degrees.  I visited the Blues yesterday and saw these avalanches occurring, you can see my observation here.

    Wet Loose avalanches can take us off our feet or push our machines downhill. They are heavy and hard to escape. Avoid terrain where being caught could push you into trees, off cliffs, or bury you in a gully.

    (3/30/2023)

    Wet Loose avalanches coming off cliffs.

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Consistent snowfall and fluctuating temperatures have created dense slabs of snow. These dense slabs sit upon crusts and varying densities of snow. As more snow is added the likelihood of triggering a storm slab avalanche increases. If you find dense snow sitting on a crust or lower-density snow, move to lower-angle terrain (< 30 degrees)

Avalanche Discussion

Springtime storms continue to bring new snow and good riding conditions. Snow and weather conditions can change rapidly this time of year with snow turning to rain and sun affecting the slopes. Stay alert to quickly changing conditions. 

Consistent snowfall and temperature variations have created many crusts in the upper snowpack. In between these crusts, the density of snow varies. In some places, the snow between the crusts is still soft and low-density. These "crust sandwiches" can create avalanches. Whumpfing and propagation in Extended Column Tests have been observed on a crust sandwich in the Western Wallowas. This reactive combination has been found near 7100' on Northwest and East aspects. If you experience whumpfing, dig down to investigate what caused the collapse in the snowpack. Whumpfing is a red flag of instability, if you experience whumpfing it is advised to avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees that are on similar aspects and elevations to where the whumpf occurred. You can watch a video from forecaster Victor McNeil showing this problem here.

Regions covered