Bollettino valanghe

Generally stable snowpack conditions exist. Wind-scoured surfaces have created challenging conditions on W,NW,N, and NE aspects above 7000'. With warmer temperatures and strong solar radiation today, you might see new snow shedding off rocks, cliffs, and trees, especially on south-facing terrain.

Today's avalanche forecast is sponsored by Brundage Mountain Resort. Thanks for supporting the Payette Avalanche Center.

Who's ready to thaw out? Sunday and Monday morning, temperatures bottomed out around - 30F in the valley bottoms and -20 F around 6500'. Those readings did not include wind chill factors! The previous five days of cold, dry weather has brought us into LOW danger. We've been mentioning Dry Loose and Wind Slabs for avalanche problems this past week. The dry loose problem has either been scoured by winds or stabilized by solar radiation. There is a slight chance of encountering dry loose snow (sluff) on northern aspects, steeper than 35 degrees, that have been protected by the wind (below 7500'). Wind slabs have been healing in recent days and have become unreactive in most places. Snow available for transport  peaked around last weekend (28-29th). Since then, most slopes above 7200' have been heavily wind-affected, particularly W,NW,N,and NE-facing slopes. 

With warmer temperatures today (around 30 F above 7000'), you can expect to see new snow shedding off trees, rocks, and cliffs, especially on south-facing aspects. I do no expect to see wet loose slides today, but as the temperature increases and solar radiation peaks, be aware of snow shedding off these objects.

Don't let your guard down just because the danger is rated at LOW. Continue safe travel protocols, make sure everyone in your group is properly equipped with rescue gear (transceiver, shovel, probe). Pay attention to the snow surface. What is the snow surface on different aspects? Are there persistent snow grains (like surface hoar or near-surface facets)? How about crusts or wind-scoured snow? As the old saying goes, "Today's snow surface is tomorrow's weak layer". These surfaces will be buried with new snow come this weekend. It's much easier to pay attention to the snow when it's on the surface rather than when it's buried under new snow. Make a mental map of what the snow is like on different aspects so after the next storm, you'll be one step ahead of the snowpack.