Avalanche forecast

Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

You're most likely to trigger a large avalanche on steep slopes facing the northern two-thirds of the compass. In recent days, multiple groups triggered avalanches remotely—from flat terrain below, above, and to the sides of steep slopes. Smaller avalanches involving today's snowfall may be easy to trigger this afternoon.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–2.5

    Slabs formed in early February rest above a variety of ugly, widespread, weak layers (facets, surface hoars, crusts, and combinations). You are most likely to trigger a 2-4 foot thick avalanche where:

    • The slope or terrain you're connected to is steeper than about 35 degrees
    • The slope faces the northern 2/3 of the compass
    • The slab is less than about 3' thick—relatively shallower spots may exist where the wind frequently blows, and the slab is not uniformly thick.

    Before triggering an avalanche, you may or may not experience obvious signs of instability like snowpack cracking and collapsing or whumpfing. Persistent Slabs can release in surprising ways, break wider than expected, and release above or hundreds of feet away from where they are triggered. We can't assume tracks on a slope mean it is safe; several people could descend a slope before triggering an avalanche.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Today's storm will begin building fresh wind slabs that may be sensitive to your weight. These slabs will be thicker and more widespread at upper elevations where stronger wind and more snow are expected. Look for freshly forming cornices, dunes, or snow drifts; these are clues that the wind has been moving snow. Cracks shooting from your skis or sled mean you've found a sensitive slab. 

Avalanche Discussion

Snowfall this afternoon will bring 5-9" to this zone by 5 PM. Snow amounts and avalanche danger will continue to increase into tomorrow. Many large avalanches released naturally in the western and northern parts of this zone (the Soldiers, Dollarhide area, and the mountains surrounding Ketchum) during the big early February storms. Fewer large avalanches released near Hailey and Bellevue. Here are some important, recent observations:

This clear evidence shows the snowpack needs more time to adjust to the big load from the recent storms. Consider the consequences of a meaty slab avalanche breaking hundreds of feet wide before committing to playing on or below any steep slopes with trees, creeks, lakes, or gullies where the debris would pile up.  

Regions covered