Avalanche forecast

Northern Wallowas

Wallowa Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Continued warm temperatures have likely improved stability throughout the Wallowas. However, weak snow sits near a mid-December rain crust on all aspects, now buried under 1 foot or more of newer snow.  If you feel collapses or are suddenly in wind-stiffened snow, seek low angle terrain.  

Avalanche danger has been rated Low, below treeline, due to a lack of snow.  

This forecast is sponsored by La Grande Sno-Drifters snowmobile club.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Southerly winds of the past few days have been strong enough to transport snow into slabs.  Choose low angle terrain if you seeing shooting cracks or the snow feels suddenly stiff or supportive under your equipment. 

    However, warm temps both near and above freezing have limited the likelihood and the size of these.  Liquid moisture acts as a glue, as we've all seen that warm snow is more likely to stick to surfaces.  This warmth also allows windslabs from earlier in the week to heal.  

    Use caution where winds have deposited an additional load over the 12/18 rain crust, as this would act as a slick bed surface.  You can find that crust with your probe, your pole handle, or your machine track.  

Avalanche Discussion

Though we wished for Polar Expresses of delightful snow,

We instead received Pineapple Expresses all in a row.  

The Atmospheric Rivers turned on their taps,

Sadly with rain to the peaks of the Eagle Caps.  

Yet as our Cascadian neighbors know,

Throughout the season, 

This water helps our overall stability grow.  

 

Rain and above-freezing temps can spike the avalanche danger in the short term, especially on dry snow, but over the course of days and now weeks, it generally improves stability.  There is no rapid change, and for the weekend, we have a cooling trend.  This is good for base building for the rest of the season.

N Wallowas:   Northern Wallowas 12/20 Forecaster Caleb and his partner found 12-18" of new snow above the 12/18 rain crust/crust sandwich with an average total height of 2' at Wing Ridge.  They also found red flags such as collapsing/whoomphing and unstable results in tests (propagation).  This 12/18 crust sandwich changes with elevation, so please share where you find it and where you don't.  

S Wallowas: A Southern Wallowas 12/19 report showed 18" of wet new snow, up to 4' deep in drifts.  The 12/18 crust was 1/4-1" thick at 6800'.  Travel was and still is challenging due to low tide.  

 

Merry Christmas, to those who celebrate it.  

 

 New resources for 2025/2026

  • Blog post on gear and brain prep for the season: The Shakedown
  • Avy App. It can save the forecast for offline use and store field observations that upload automatically when back in service. 

Avalanche Courses:  The WAC provides avalanche education specifically for both backcountry skiers and snowmobilers.  Check out all of our courses here.  

  • Motorized Companion Rescue Jan. 16 Catherine Creek
  • Motorized Level 1 Course Jan 17-18 Catherine Creek
  • Motorized Level 2 Course Jan 24-25 Halfway
  • Motorized Level 1 Refresher Feb 7 Catherine Creek
  • Women's Only Snowmobile Clinic Feb 28-March 1 Catherine Creek

Observations: 

 Submit an observation here.  Let's paint this picture together.   An observation can be just that- a picture.  It doesn't have to use any technical wording or snow nerd acronyms.  Just explain where you went and what you saw (or if you did not see avalanches).   Submitting observations through the Avy App has made it incredibly easy to help paint the picture for forecasters and recreational users.  

Regions covered