Avalanche forecast

Avalanche forecast

Payette Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Solar aspects will likely produce small to medium D1-D2, wet loose avalanches in the upper 1-2 feet of the snowpack that is loose and dry as the Sun heats up rocks and the snow surface. Recent winds out of the South, and Southwest have formed large cornices and slabs in leeward terrain. Use caution in steep terrain, especially wind-affected and loaded leeward terrain near ridgelines and cornices and on slopes getting heated by direct sunlight.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    The last foot of snow came down Tuesday evening as temps dropped. This gave us really light and dry snow that failed naturally mid-storm. The cool North breeze should help a little to mitigate most activity today, but the clouds were helping shade the mountains yesterday, and some slopes are going to be getting Sun for the first time today, and will likely shed snow as they get heated up. Solar aspects (E, SE, S, SW, W), especially steep slopes that face the sun with rocks exposed will be shedding rollerballs and wet-loose debris. Use caution traveling on or under steep solar slopes. If you are seeing rollerballs and fresh debris, find a cooler aspect.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Winds have calmed over the last 24 hours, but be cautious in upper elevation terrain as earlier in the week ( Monday-Tuesday) our mountains were impacted by 1-3 feet of snow and by gusts out of the SSW into the 30-40 mph range. Most slabs failed naturally and have likely been covered up by the lighter-density snow that came in as the winds calmed and the temps cooled mid-storm Tuesday evening.

    Watch for slabs 1-2 feet deep near the ridgelines and in leeward terrain which varies in the mountains from local terrain influences. If you are seeing cracking or other red flags find a lower-angle slope to travel on.

Avalanche Discussion

Today's forecast is sponsored by Brundage Mountain Resort. Thank You for continuing to support the Payette Avalanche Center!

Wednesday, the PAC traveled up the Lick Cr drainage and observed the impacts of the last storm that laid down over 20" of snow (2.5" SWE) under strong S/SW winds that gusted into the 30 mph range. Widespread natural avalanches (small to medium R2-3, D1-3) were observed in steep terrain on multiple aspects in the upper 1-2 feet of snow throughout the Lick Creek drainage. Temps cooled and left us with a nice layer on top that was dry and light...so light that it failed naturally on steep slopes on many aspects as the temps dropped Tuesday evening.

Check out all of the Reports throughout the advisory area of natural and human-triggered avalanches that have come across our observations page over the last 48 hours (Huge thanks to those that have submitted all of the excellent observations that have been submitted this season! :) 

Our test pits this week have shown some failures in density changes within the upper 1-3 feet of the snowpack but did not propagate in our extended column tests on Wednesday.  The light dry upper snowpack could move or sluff in steep terrain. Watch your partners one at a time on all slopes steeper than 30 degrees and use caution near cornices that are hanging over, and in and around gullies or other terrain traps like cliffs and rocky areas.