Bollettino valanghe

Banner Summit

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Thu
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
3 · Marcato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 6 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Human-triggered avalanches are likely where the wind formed drifts and slabs. In terrain sheltered from the wind, triggering large avalanches is less likely but still possible. You may be able to trigger slides remotely—from flat terrain below, above, and to the sides of steep slopes.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Triggering wide, 1-3 foot thick avalanches is most likely in freshly wind-loaded terrain. The storm and wind-driven snow buried a fresh crop of weak facets, surface hoar, crust-facet combinations, or crusts on many middle and upper elevation slopes. More deeply buried weak layers that formed during the extended Jan-Feb drought (facets, crust + facets, surface hoar) have not healed and remain suspect, primarily on NW-N-NE-E aspects above and below the middle-to-upper elevation transition. 

    Persistent Slabs can release much wider than expected and be triggered remotely—from flat terrain below, above, and to the sides of steep slopes.

    Avoiding all steep wind-loaded slopes is the best way to avoid trouble today. Recognize that avalanches are also possible in more sheltered terrain.  Snowpack cracking and collapsing are clear signs of unstable conditions.

    (2/10/2026) Slab avalanches near Elizabeth Lake in the Northern Sawtooths. NE @ 8,800'.

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Whether a weak layer exists or not, the combination of up to 12 inches of recent snowfall and moderate to strong winds makes natural and human-triggered avalanches very likely in windy, upper-elevation and alpine terrain. These slides may not be as wide or big as the Persistent Slab avalanches described above, but will still be large enough to bury people. Additionally, these slides can trigger or "step down" to Persistent Slab avalanches as they move downslope.

    Be on the lookout for wind-affected surfaces, feel for stiff hollow slabs overlying weaker or softer snow, and be aware of shooting cracks from your skis or machine as indicators to move to more sheltered terrain with softer snow. Steep, wind-loaded slopes should be off limits today, regardless of what elevation band you are in. Avoid playing in locations with overhead hazards—areas below steep, windy slopes that lack dense, live tree stands. 

    Winds are forecast to increase this afternoon, and the chances of triggering fresh wind slabs are expected to increase along with it.

Avalanche Discussion

The snow continues to stack up throughout the forecast area. Weather stations reported an additional 0.3 to 0.5" of SWE over the past 24 hours, with storm totals currently sitting at ~1" of SWE in the Banner area. There is probably even more that has fallen at upper elevation locations. All that snow has fallen on various weak surfaces and is actively loading the very weak facets from the January drought. If you choose to get out and enjoy the abundant new snow today, keep your head on a swivel and keep terrain choices mellow to steer clear of trouble.

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