Avalanche forecast

Selkirk Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Warmer daytime temperatures and overnight refreezing are making it more difficult to trigger an avalanche. Generally safe conditions exist, but there are still isolated areas where the snowpack is shallower, and a skier or rider could impact a deeper buried weak layer and trigger a potentially large avalanche. If you travel in terrain steeper than 35 degrees, be aware of these shallow spots around rocky wind scoured features or the backside of steep convex rollovers and prioritize travelling on slopes that have clean run outs.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The buried surface hoar from January 1st and the Christmas rain “Grinch Crust” are buried 2 to 3 feet deep in most middle and upper elevations across the zones. While the snowpack structure is still present, these persistent weak layers have shown that sensitivity is decreasing. Minor differences across the forecast zones exist; the January 1st buried surface hoar has been more present in the Northern Mountains but has been more difficult to find in the Silver Valley-Bitterroots as a result of the brief January 2nd- 3rd rain event climbing higher in elevation in the south, which helped destroy the surface hoar in many areas.

    While the sensitivity of these weak layers has trended towards unreactive, you might be able to still trigger a large avalanche in isolated areas where the snowpack has a soft surface and is shallower in steep, rocky complex terrain. If you choose to travel in this type of terrain avoid complacency and continue to use safe travel habits.

    Looking uphill at the crown of a large natural avalanche that failed directly below a steep cliff, likely on a buried persistent weak layer. If you look closely, you can see a shallowly buried rock in the looker's left portion of the crown. Selkirk Mountains. January 13, 2026.

    Photo: Chris Bilbrey

Avalanche Discussion

Today is a fairly significant day in this season’s history, as it marks the first time that all of the forecast zones are under a low danger rating. Since we started issuing regular forecasts on December 5th, there has only been one day where there was green on the map, and that day the Silver Valley-Bitterroots were rated as low, while everywhere else was moderate.

This is a result of a few reasons. Since the beginning of the season, we have been dealing with a Persistent Slab problem that has plagued the snowpack. Over the course of the season the primary persistent weak layer of concern has changed, but different rain crusts surrounded by weak snow and buried surface hoar resulted in natural and skier triggered avalanches, and propagating snowpack tests, all of which has driven the danger to stay above low. Finally, these weak layers are buried deeper in the snowpack, and a recent run of warmer temperatures followed by overnight refreezing is helping the snowpack stability trend in a positive direction. We have seen these layers become less reactive in snowpack tests and have seen an overall decrease in avalanche activity.

However, we are not at a point where we can write off this problem yet. The snowpack structure is still present, meaning that these weak layers still exist in the snowpack. They are trending in the right direction but still lurk 2 to 3+ feet deep. Although the danger is low, it certainly does not mean there is no chance of triggering an avalanche. Due to the depth of these weak layers, finding the isolated not-so-right spot on a slope would likely result in a large avalanche.

It feels and looks like spring, but the snowpack is currently a bit more complex than a typical springtime snowpack. If you get out in the mountains, make sure your avalanche brain is on, and be mindful that shallow, rocky areas in steep terrain with a soft surface are the most likely places to awaken a sleepy persistent weak layer.

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