Avalanche forecast

Northern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Fast and long running dry loose avalanches will easily be triggered in terrain steeper than 35 degrees today.  If you trigger one of these avalanches, it could easily knock you around or push you into consequential terrain traps such as into a gully, over a cliff, or into bands of dense trees.   Fresh sensitive windslabs will also likely be forming along leeward ridgelines as moderate winds out of the SW were recorded overnight.  

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

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

    This type of avalanche problem type is predictable.  Manage this problem through your terrain selection.  It will be found on all aspects and elevations in terrain approaching or exceeding 35 degrees.  If you trigger a dry loose avalanche in the wrong location (top of a cliff, above a gully, or in dense trees)- a rider could easily be injured, buried, or killed.   The light density storm snow provides excellent riding on lower angle slopes.  Utilize small, safe, but steep test slopes to test the reactiveness of the new snow.  

  • Wind Slabs

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

    With a plentiful amount of light density snow available for transport and overnight winds gusting in the 20's likely from the SW, wind slabs have been formed on leeward ridgelines overnight and will be sensitive to triggering.   Look for evidence of ongoing or previous wind loading such as pillowy looking drifts that may sound hollow.  Avoid terrain features that are likely wind loaded.   

Avalanche Discussion

The Southern Wallowas received 5" of new snow with .4" of Snow Water Equivelant in the last 24 hours.  Since Thrusday, storm totals have been 7"/.7" SWE.  We really like how this storm has brought us new snow to the area in light waves since Thursday.  The snowpack doesn't like rapid change, and this current storm system has been kind to the snowpack- so far.    Temperatures have stayed cold- preserving the excellent riding conditions and delaying the settlement of the snow into a cohesive slab.  As time proceeds, or with the addition of wind and additional snow- a storm slab or wind slab may start to form on exposed upper elevation areas.  Quick hand pits over a variety of aspects and elevations will give you a good idea of how the new storm snow is bonding and whether it is reactive at the old snow interface.  The use of safe test slopes will also give you a great idea of how this snow may be settling into a slab.  If you see shooting cracks, feel the snowpack collapsing, or see recent avalanche activity-  Choose less complex terrain with slopes less than 30 degrees.  

We still are watching the 1/12 rain crust and associated weak snow around this crust.  It has been found in elevations below treeline and has been reactive in snowpack tests.  It does not seem to be present in locations above 7,000'.   Check out the recent observations from the Norway Basin area and South side of Cornucopia. 

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