Lawinenlagebericht

Selkirk Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

The lack of significant snowfall, major rain-on-snow event, or prolonged period of above freezing temperatures is helping the snowpack find balance. This makes persistent weak layers below a dense, consolidating slab more difficult to trigger with each passing day. Continue to use safe travel practices, and factor in that shallow points in the snowpack around rocky terrain features will be the most likely areas for a skier or rider to influence deeper weak layers.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    2–2.5

    A cohesive slab of snow sits over two buried surface hoar layers, one from the end of January (1/28) and the other from middle of February (V-Day, 2/14). These layers are now 2 to 4 feet below the surface. The February storm snow is stiffening and settling into a harder slab due to wind, warmer temperatures, and natural settlement. A peak of avalanche activity occurred on these layers during the second half of February.

    Obvious signs of instability, such as audible collapses, cracking, or natural avalanches are unlikely. The likelihood of getting into trouble with one of these persistent weak layers is decreasing, but the possible consequences remain the same. Thin and shallow snowpack areas, such a rocky locations near connected slopes, could be trigger spots to avoid and create margins around while traveling.

    Snow pit at 6,500 feet on a north aspect. Here, the Propagation Saw Test showed a cut length of about half the column before propagation to the end of the column occurred on a surface hoar layer from the middle of February. (PST 57/100 END).  West Cabinets, March 4, 2026.

    Photo: Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Snow totals since March 4 amount to 1 to 3 inches across the Selkirk, Cabinet, and Purcell Mountains. The Silver Valley-Bitterroots got away with higher totals, ringing in 2 to 6 inches and nearly 1 inch of SWE. This made for a nice refresh of surface conditions, particularly at high elevations.

Despite weather stations recording strong winds in the previous 24 hours, field teams have reported little change in terms of Wind Slabs developing. You may encounter shallow, wind drifted snow below ridge lines, but this will likely be an isolated occurrence. A break in storms today, coupled with mild temperatures, will allow for avalanche conditions to remain mostly steady.

As the slab of snow blanketing the persistent weak layers we have been talking about for quite some time continues to stiffen and settle, triggering an avalanche that breaks deep into the snowpack is becoming less likely each day. But, we can’t forget that the weak layer structure is still lurking, so it is not out of the cards. Slopes that face primarily north and east will hold the greatest potential to find trouble on a layer of surface hoar that got buried in mid-February. To add to that, areas around rock outcroppings where the snowpack is thinner and shallower will make it easier for a skier or rider to have an influence on these layers, since there won’t be the same protection from a dense and thick slab. Keep this in mind as you choose your terrain and consider the consequence of what is below you.

A shift in weather will roll in Friday night, which will be the precursor to a more significant weather event next week. It’s a good time to avoid complacency and continue to practice safe travel protocols while making educated terrain choices.

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