It’s been a weird winter so far. The season started off with an initial layer in November that then turned into facets before early December came in strong with significant storms. A weeks-long high-pressure system that brought a mix of cold and warm temperatures and a lot of sunshine proceeded, which, if you’re a resort skier, there are few complaints, but for the backcountry, this can foreshadow disaster for when the next storm lands. Christmas was pretty bleak for most of the West, but the pressure dropped just as we welcomed the new year and hasn’t really stopped snowing and blowing since.
This peculiar combination of weather events not only makes it hard to know what the skiing is going to be like, but it also makes the snowpack incredibly unprecedented for any level of user and susceptible to avalanches. Across the West, avalanche conditions are downright spooky and dangerous right now. Things are breaking bigger, wider and far more unpredictable than anticipated, burying cars on Berthoud Pass in Colorado and, unfortunately, claiming lives in inbounds at Palisades Tahoe and in the backcountry of the Tetons.
Below you will find a brief assessment of the current snowpacks across the Mountain West, according to each region’s avalanche center. From Washington and Oregon to California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, we are here to help disseminate the information provided by real professionals. Moral of the story in the West right now: be patient and play it safe, we are dealing with a very sensitive and volatile snowpack.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list, so please be sure to monitor your local forecasting center for the most accurate reports and check back here mid-season for another avy assessment across the western United States.
California
Sierra Avalanche Center
These recent storms have dropped enough snow to not only create new snow avalanche concerns but have also created a significant load on that weak layer of facets that developed during the December dry spell. While Tahoe’s forecast dropped to moderate today, there is still very much the possibility of triggering a persistent slab that has been observed on various aspects and elevations.
Colorado
Colorado Avalanche Center
All of Colorado is rated as moderate or high today, with special avalanche statements and warnings across the state. Heavy snowfall and extreme winds have created a dangerous scenario for much of the state, and it’s been forecasted as almost certain that you will trigger an avalanche on any slope above 30 degrees, even below treeline.
Idaho
Sawtooth Avalanche Center
All of the Sawtooth forecasting zones are rated considerable today due to the same heavy snowfall and winds that have made their way across the West. Large and destructive avalanches will be easy to trigger today, according to the Sawtooth Avy forecast for today.
Montana
Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center
Much of the same can be said for Montana, which most of the state rated as considerable today. Stiff wind slabs have been packed onto weak layers and are just waiting for the right trigger to go.
Oregon
Central Oregon Avalanche Center
The Cascades are rated as moderate today, but triggering wind slabs on north, east and south slopes at upper elevations and an inversion where lower elevations have stayed cold and upper elevations are warmer have created a varied snowpack not common in Oregon.
Utah
Utah Avalanche Center
All of Utah’s avalanche forecasting zones are rated as high today, and for good reason. 100+mph winds and nearly 80 inches of snowfall in the Wasatch, specifically, have created disastrous conditions which led to a black rose rating from Utah Avy and an inter lodge at Alta and Snowbird as well as a highway closure of 210 for mitigation efforts.
Washington
Northwest Avalanche Center
The Pacific Northwest seems to be faring the best out of anywhere in the western United States right now, but that simply means avalanche conditions are moderate, or just slightly less sensitive, than in other places. Caution and strategic terrain choice are still recommended.
Wyoming
Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
The Tetons and Greys River zones are under an avalanche warning today, and yesterday’s unfortunate avalanche fatality is a stark reminder of the consequences of traveling in avalanche terrain right now. Extreme caution should be used if you do decide to go out in Wyoming’s backcountry and travel under or near slopes steeper than 30 degrees is not recommended.
