Ketchum, ID – Avalanche warnings have been issued for the Sawtooth and Sierra mountain ranges as intense winter storms bring heavy snow and strong winds, creating dangerous backcountry conditions through Sunday morning.
According to the Forest Service Sawtooth Avalanche Center, the affected areas include the White Cloud, Smoky, Boulder, Pioneer, and Soldier Mountains, as well as regions near Smiley Creek, Atlanta, and Galena Summit. Avalanche danger is categorized as high, with conditions severe enough to trigger natural and human-induced avalanches capable of burying individuals or destroying structures.
A similar warning has been issued by the Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee, CA, covering the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains, including the Lake Tahoe area. Forecasters report that high-intensity snowfall and gusting winds will destabilize snowpacks, posing significant risks both above and below the treeline.
Authorities strongly advise against travel in avalanche-prone areas, recommending people avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees and stay clear of terrain below steep inclines. Remote avalanche triggering from flat terrain is also possible.
Detailed updates are available at www.sawtoothavalanche.com and www.sierraavalanchecenter.org. Similar risks may exist outside the designated warning zones.
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