Bollettino valanghe

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Sat
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3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
Senza grado
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 5 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

New snow and wind have created sensitive stiff wind drifts at the highest exposed ridgelines.  To reduce your exposure, avoid wind-loaded slopes that are greater than 30 degrees in steepness.   Rain on snow will create reactive wet loose avalanche activity within the new snow.   Avoid steep terrain if you are finding more than 6" of wet and sloppy snow under your machine.  

Today's forecast is sponsored by M. Crow in Lostine, OR

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Strong winds have been recorded at all upper elevation wind stations in the last 48 hours.  The direction has mostly been out of the West/Southwest.  The wind has blown new snow into sensitive drifts along exposed terrain.  The new snow is sitting on a crust of variable thickness that was formed on many aspects earlier this week.  This created a solid bed surface on which newly formed wind slabs can easily be released.  

    The storm started cold and trended warmer over the last 24-48 hours.  This has created inverted or "upside-down" conditions within the new snow.  Dense and slabby conditions were the norm while travelling at all elevations yesterday.  Wind slabs that were formed with lighter snow on Wednesday have now been covered by a blanket of dense and heavy snow.  Wind slabs could be more reactive where they sit above lighter-density snow.

    Strong to Extreme wind speeds can create unfamiliar loading patterns- or it might have just blown all of our snow to Idaho!  Expect to find windslab development lower on slopes than you might commonly see.  

    Look for clues to wind loading patterns in the terrain: 

    • Dune-like features downwind of stripped locations
    • Snow surface textures that look rippled and stiff 
    • Note if your machine or boards are staying on top of a stiff and supportable slab of snow 
    • Cornice growth along ridgelines- wind slabs are often most sensitive downwind of corniced ridgelines
    • Shooting cracks/collapsing on the surface
    • Patterns of cross-loading on mid-slope terrain features.  

    The best riding and the least exposure today will be in wind-sheltered locations.  

    Textured snow below a corniced ridgeline: Wind Slab

    (3/12/2026) Photo: Caleb Merrill

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1–2

    As temperatures warm and rain falls on snow, the surface of the snowpack will continue to become weaker, and wet loose avalanches will likely develop in terrain steeper than 35 degrees.  Monitor the moisture of the surface snow.  Use small and inconsequential test slopes to determine the reactivity of the surface snow.  Terrain traps could enhance the consequences of even a small wet loose avalanche.  Avoid riding above cliffs, gullies, creeks, and benches if you are seeing reactive wet loose activity.  

Avalanche Discussion

The current storm started cold and trended warmer over the last 24-48 hours.   Wind slabs could be more reactive where they sit above lighter-density snow.    Wind slabs are usually hard slab avalanches and will often release above a rider once they are on the slope.  They are also often triggered where the slab is thinner- towards the sides of the slab or near the bottom.  Steer clear of steep wind-loaded terrain today.  

Warming temperatures, combined with rain on snow at lower and mid elevations, may make wet loose avalanches reactive today in the surface snow.  Look for clues such as natural roller ball activity and avoid steep terrain above terrain traps if you are finding wet and cohesionless snow at the surface.  

Recent Observations: 

Motorized Ambassador Matt Lewis traveled to Flagstaff Butte on Wednesday.  

Northern Wallowas: Big Sheep Observation from Thursday. 

Let's paint this picture together.  Let us know what you are seeing out there through an observation.  It doesn't need to be complex or technical- just a few pictures and a description of what you encountered is super helpful to forecasters.  

Beacon Parks: Thank you to everyone who helped establish the beacon training park at Anthony Lakes (across from the ski lift on Mud Lake) and near the warming shelter at Salt Creek Summit snopark outside of Joseph, OR. This is a valuable free resource that everyone should use to practice their companion rescue skills. 

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