Avalanche forecast

Avalanche forecast

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The Avalanche Hazard is LOW today, but shallow, wet, loose avalanches on steep slopes will become more likely as the snowpack warms and the snow surface loosens.  East and Southeast aspects will turn from firm to slushy quickly this morning, other solar aspects will follow quickly as the sun heats them up as well.  Spring in the mountains brings variable conditions, be aware of changes in the snowpack as you travel, and consider the consequences of even a small avalanche if you are in steep terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Daytime temperatures continue to climb this week and will hit near-record highs tomorrow.  Overnight temperatures continue to climb as well with refreezing of the snowpack occurring for a shorter portion of the night. Despite the fact that the avalanche hazard is low and you are unlikely to trigger large avalanches today, natural and human-triggered wet, loose avalanche activity will be a growing concern as the snow surface begins to soften throughout the day.  As the sun heats up the snow surface and the temperature rises today, pay attention to how much you are sinking into the snowpack.  Conditions will change quickly from good corn snow to slop as temps rise.  If you are sinking in past your ankles or seeing steeper slopes beginning to shed snow in the form of point releases and rollerballs, choose a different slope to play on that is not getting direct sunlight. Even a small wet avalanche can have bad consequences in steep terrain. 

    Expect similar conditions tomorrow with mild overnight temperatures and gusty winds.   Skiers will want to be out early and back early as even northerly aspects are getting sticky by mid-afternoon.  Sledders, no rush for you. The afternoon is exactly when you want to be out enjoying the soft, carveable spring snow, just stay off steep solar aspects.  If you are headed out early, expect cooling your sled to be a major issue. 

Avalanche Discussion

Don't throw caution to the wind during LOW danger, stack the odds in your favor. A slope only needs to have an angle of 30 degrees to produce an avalanche...Check your aspect and slope angle regularly. Across the U. S. we have had 36 avalanche fatalities so far this year. It is always a good idea to travel on slopes steeper than 30 degrees one at a time. Make sure all of your partners are carrying first aid gear as well as an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel.

We will issue our last advisory for the season on Saturday, April 10th. We would like to thank everyone for their support and observations, and for staying safe during an especially dangerous winter!  

  OBSERVATIONS – Please keep sharing your observations and information on instabilities and incidents. Your observations are very important to our operations and help everyone who looks at them. We have been experiencing some bugs with our observation page. If you are having difficulty submitting your observations, please email your information and photos with as much information as you can to [email protected].   MOTORIZED CLOSURES – Motorized closures are in effect in a few areas on the Payette National Forest.  Areas around Brundage Mountain Resort, on Granite Mountain, on Jughandle Mountain, in the Lick Creek area, and a few other areas are closed to motorized travel. Not all of these closures are signed, or signs may be easy to miss.  Please refer to the Winter Travel Map to find out where you can shred on your sled or moto. You can also download this map on your phone using the Avenza app.  Please respect other users and these closures where they exist.   SURVEYS – Our colleagues at the Wallowa Avalanche Center are seeking to gain a better understanding of how backcountry travelers use the avalanche forecast and have released this survey. Reach out to [email protected] with questions. Also, researchers from the University of Montana and the University of Nevada, Reno are looking into how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected backcountry skiing and snowboarding. That survey is available here.   DONATE – We rely on your support so please reach out to the Friends of the PAC, or click Donate above, to help us provide you with the info you need to be safe in the mountains.