Bollettino valanghe

Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
Vedi sulla mappa

Pericolo valanghe

Sun
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
3 · Marcato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
Open full map
Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 5 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Hot temperatures and strong sunshine are creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Large, destructive natural and human-triggered wet avalanches are likely. The timing of wet avalanches is hard to predict. Avoid slopes where the snowpack is mushy, and don't linger beneath large, avalanche paths. On colder slopes, triggering a large slab avalanche is possible in wind-affected terrain.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    2–3

    Two varieties of wet snow avalanches are likely on steep, wind-sheltered slopes:

    1. Wet Slab: These large avalanches are unpredictable. They release as buried weak layers become wet. We anticipate these avalanches to break 1-4 feet thick, creating a dangerous, likely unsurvivable avalanche. They can break widely and without warning. The only way to reduce your risk is to avoid traveling on or under steep slopes. 
    2. Wet Loose:  These avalanches are most likely during the heat of the day on slopes that face the sun. They often initiate near the bases of trees, rocks, and cliffs. Although slow-moving, these avalanches are surprisingly powerful and difficult to escape. They may also trigger larger wet slab avalanches (example) as they move downhill.

    Additional Discussion - Cornices: Avoid large, overhanging cornices. The heat will cause these to sag and break. Scary in their own right, they also serve as excellent triggers for the two wet avalanche concerns described above. 

    Large Wet Loose avalanche in the Northern Sawtooths near Williams Peak. NE 9000'.

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1.5–2

    It's possible to trigger dry, slab avalanches at upper elevations. Look for this problem near and just below exposed ridgelines and along cross-loaded mid-slope gullies and in cirques below steep faces, large cliff bands, and chutes. 

    Recent cornice growth, pillows, and dunes are all clues that wind was at work moving snow.  Cracking and collapsing are sure indications that you've found a sensitive slab.

    These avalanches may break more deeply or widely than expected, as the slab may be resting on buried weak layers (sugary facets, surface hoar, and crust + facet combinations)—particularly on NW, N, NE, and E facing slopes.

    (3/17/2026) Wet loose-triggered slab avalanches near Imogene Peak in the Southern Sawtooth Range on an E aspect at ~9400'. 

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Today will be slightly cooler than the past few days, but it’s still warm enough to do weird things to the snowpack. Multiple hot days followed by nights without solid freezes are allowing meltwater to move deeper into the snowpack. Confidence in how things will behave remains low.

Our main concern, and greatest source of uncertainty, is how the persistent weak layers buried in February will react as meltwater reaches them. These layers are most pronounced on cold, shaded mid and upper elevation slopes. Although observed wet slab activity has been limited so far, yesterday's warm temperatures and last night's weak refreeze may push the snowpack past its tipping point. Wet slab avalanches are notoriously difficult to forecast. Until we see a strong overnight freeze, expect sketchy conditions. 

You can reduce your risk by traveling early and getting back to the car early. Surface crusts are expected to become mushy once exposed to the sun. The only surefire way to reduce your risk is to limit your exposure to avalanche terrain.  

Regioni coperte