A powerful storm in Idaho has created high avalanche danger across portions of the Sawtooth Mountains, with the danger specifically high in the Galena Summit & Eastern Mountains, the Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mountains, and Banner Summit.
According to the Sawtooth Avalanche Information center, destructive natural and human-triggered avalanches are almost certain to release in windy terrain. Anyone heading into the backcountry in these areas should avoid steep slopes where wind is drifting snow, and any steep terrain receiving significant rain.
Slides can be triggered remotely, from flat terrain below, above, and to the sides of steep slopes. Avalanche terrain, including middle and low elevation runouts of large slide paths, should be avoided terrain.
Strong winds and heavy snow combine to make the avalanche conditions very dangerous in areas affected by the wind. The avalanche hazard peaks this morning as the powerful cold front passes before noon. While avalanches involving the new storm snow are dangerous on their own, they also increase the odds of a very large avalanche breaking on persistent weak layers buried deep.
Pre-cold front rainlines could also climb to around 8,200 feet, increasing the risk of naturally occurring wet avalanches. Make sure to check the avalanche forecast for your local area before heading into the backcountry.
