Avalanche forecast

Blues

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Snowfall accompanied by moderate to strong west winds has created thick sensitive wind slabs on  northeast, east, and southeast facing terrain. These avalanches are most likely in areas exposed to the wind where you see cornices, drifts, or textured snow. Choosing terrain that is less than 30 degrees and unaffected by the wind is recommended. 

 

This forecast is sponsored by Robert Brooks Painting.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New snow since Wednesday accompanied by west wind has built wind slabs on north, northeast, east, and southeast-facing terrain.  These potentially thick wind slabs could be poorly bonded to the firm crusty snow they rest upon.  Now, these wind slabs may be getting buried by snow that fell with less wind and becoming harder to detect. Choosing terrain less exposed to wind at lower elevations is the best way to avoid triggering a wind slab.

     

    (3/1/2023)

    Cracking on isolated features, common red flag while traveling on dangerous windslabs

     

    Photo: Nick Burks

  • Loose Dry

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

    Lots of new snow means that it is likely that a skier or rider will be able to trigger a dry loose avalanche today on steep slopes that remain undisturbed by wind. You are most likely to find these avalanches in steep wind-sheltered areas that have a melt-freeze crust under the new snow. These avalanches may start as small sluffs but gain size and momentum as they run. Exercise caution on slopes where these avalanches could take you for a ride into rocks, trees or push you into a gully. 

    (3/23/2023)

    Small skier dry loose avalanche triggered on a test slope  in the Northern Elkhorns.

    Photo: TG

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday's break in snowfall has given the snowpack a moment to adjust to the new snow that has fallen since Wednesday. This break also gave the snow time to settle and form more cohesive slabs. In addition to the avalanche problems forecasted above, be on the lookout for storm slabs. These storm slabs will have formed where the new snow has lost some of its "fluffiness" and become more cohesive. 

Another round of snow this afternoon will renew and refresh the avalanche hazard. Thank you for your observations and please let us know what you see out there today!

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