Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The most significant avalanche hazard will be the new snow at elevations above 6,500'.  The highest terrain across the area will likely harbor storm slabs and pockets of wind loading. If you are venturing into the high terrain of the Cabinets or Purcells use caution and pay attention as you gain elevation and the depth of new snow increases. Our snowpack will continue to stabilize this weekend as cooler temperatures lock the upper snowpack together.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–2.5

    Copious amounts of moisture has fallen across the area this past week. Unfortunately it has mostly come in the form of rain. On the highest terrain (areas above 6,500') you will likely see abundant snowfall and pockets of wind loading where this moisture came in as snow. This new snow is likely resting on a firm surface that was hammered by wind prior to the storm rolling in.  I would advise avoiding the high and steep terrain until the fresh snow has had a couple of days to settle as human triggered avalanches will be likely today in those locations.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    We still have those pesky weak layers in the snowpack at tree line on the north side of the mountains. Buried surface hoar and sandwiches made of crust and facets can be found 1-3 feet deep in the snowpack. These weak layers have taken on a lot of stress this past week as the upper snowpack took on both fresh snow and rain. With the upper snowpack being saturated over the past week and the temperatures dropping back below freezing, these weak layers will be less likely to fail as the upper snowpack locks together.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    With a week of rain and above freezing temperatures the snowpack below treeline has become saturated and rotten. Temperatures finally dropped below freezing last night which will reduce the likelihood of seeing "loose-wet" avalanches. Weather forecasts are showing that temperatures at lower elevations will rise back above freezing today and we may even see the sun. This may cause the upper snowpack to become loose again this afternoon, expect potential to trigger some small, wet slides in steep terrain as the day warms up and the sun starts to heat up the surface of the snowpack. 

Avalanche Discussion

I have been using the word "gross" to describe our weather the past week. Our most recent storm started as snow then transitioned to rain. The highest peaks of the area have taken on abundant snowfall with mostly rain falling below 6,500'. As the storm pushed out of the area the snowline has slowly dropped leaving us with a fresh coat of snow on the surface. This should improve the riding out there this weekend. On Friday I think the highest terrain will be a little suspect until the new snow has had some time to settle and bond. Considering the storm came in on the wet and warm side, I think we will see the snowpack stabilize quickly with a drop in temperature.

Our current conditions are very much driven by weather and temperature. The storm snow, persistent weak layers and loose wet avalanche problems will continue to stabilize as the next few days are predicted to be much cooler in the mountains. 

Regions covered