Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

An Avalanche warning is in effect.  Deadly natural and human avalanches are likely. Heavy, new snow loading and winds on top of an already unstable snow pack and an extensive buried surface hoar layer are a recipe for an avalanche cycle. Avoid traveling on or under slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Pay attention to run-out zones and don't be complacent on large road cuts or powerlines.  

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–3

    When the snow last week started, it came in soft and no winds, burying a well-developed surface hoar layer across the forecast zones and at all elevations. Storms earlier this week and then Thursday/Friday left us with an adjusting snowpack on top of this layer.   Travelling in the backcountry, expect to see shooting cracks and  collapsing on that layer. Give avalanche paths a wide berth if you are travelling on ridgelines. Wide spaced trees have the same conditions, so if they are over 30 degrees, they are a no go.   

    (2/4/2021) Remote trigger on buried surface hoar. This was triggered on the opposite side of the ridge, from back in the trees. Give ridges a wide berth.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    The winds have been moderate to strong out of the West - Southwest, but they shifted to North in the night meaning that there is a possibility of finding wind slabs on every aspect. Look for chalky, hollow sounding snow that is pillow like. Expect them on aspects you might not normally find them.  The ones on the Northern aspects could be blanketed by a layer of snow since the winds shifted in the night during the storm.  

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Lots of new snow means the potential for storm slabs increases.  These can easily step down to the buried surface hoar layer or the top of the ice crust.  They can entrain large amounts of debris that piles up deeply, especially in terrain traps.  Avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees. 

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