Avalanche — Sun Valley Region, Idaho

2021-01-28 to 2021-01-30 · Sun Valley Region, Idaho

Event narrative

Back country skiers triggered avalanches on the Warm Springs side of Bald Mountain. Skiing operations were shut down on the afternoon of the 29th due to avalanche mitigation at Sun Valley ski resort. Substantial debris from one of the avalanches caused debris on Warm Springs Road near Ketchum on the 29th. The debris buried two vehicles. Warm Springs Road was only open to residents.

Wider weather episode

A very strong atmospheric river event brought very heavy snow to the southeast Idaho mountains and the Sun Valley region. Amounts of over 2 feet of snow were very common in the drawn out event. 51 inches of snow fell at Bald Mountain at the Sun Valley ski resort and the resort shut down January 29th after several avalanches and the death of a skier.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 937231. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.