Avalanche forecast

Elkhorns

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Winds will transport snow and build fresh wind slabs on northerly aspects today near and above the treeline.  These fresh wind slabs have the possibility of catching the unsuspecting recreationist off guard.  If you observe wind-transported snow or signs of wind slab development such as shooting cracks look for terrain less than 35 degrees to recreate.  

Today's forecast is sponsored by Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise, OR.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds will increase today building fresh slabs on NW-NE aspects at the mid to upper elevations.  Look for signs of wind-transported snow such as pillows, drifts, and dune-like formations as indicators of wind drifted snow.  Shooting cracks and cornice development are other good signs the wind is moving snow and packing it into more dangerous slabs.  If you suspect wind slab development it's best to look for low-angle slopes without overhead hazards.  

    Drifts formed by Southerly winds being reshaped

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    We may not see as much wet loose activity today with cloudier skies and moderate to strong winds keeping the surface snow cooler.  If you do observe roller balls, and pinwheels or can feel the surface becoming saturated it's best to avoid similar aspects and elevations where it's possible to involve yourself in a wet loose avalanche.  A wet loose avalanche may not be big enough to bury or kill you, but could still push you into consequential terrain.  

Avalanche Discussion

Today will be a bit of a transition day as winds increase from the SW-SE in the moderate to strong category, with extreme gusts.  We have a low-pressure system moving in with some snow in the forecast early tomorrow morning.  Temperatures across the Wallowas and Elkhorns will stay below freezing today above 7,000'.  Snow levels will make it to around 5,000' today, before dropping on Friday.  Around 4-6" of snow is in the forecast for Friday, and continued moderate to strong winds.  

Food for thought: Although according to the calendar, we are now in spring the snowpack is still in winter.  Yesterday's sunshine influenced solar aspects and significant settlement has been observed since this past weekend's storm.  We are entering a roller coaster of weather conditions this weekend with snow levels forecasted to rise to around 9,000' late Sunday into Monday.  This will be a rapid change for the snowpack and it's very difficult to forecast what the outcome will be.  As we always say, mother nature doesn't like rapid change so it's best to consider using a more conservative approach while traveling in the mountains this weekend.  

Cornices: We have observed some major cornice growth over the past couple of weeks, and cornices don't like major warming events.  A cornice failure has the potential to trigger weak layers buried deeply in the snowpack, that aren't influenced by the weight of a skier or rider.  As the snow levels increase late in the weekend avoid traveling on or below slopes with cornices overhead.  There's no way to predict when a cornice may decide to cut loose, and you don't want to be below if this occurs.  Cornices also connect to terrain much further back than we might expect.  So give them plenty of space, and avoid traveling too close to them in general.  

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