Avalanche forecast

Silver Valley & Bitterroot Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

A thick rain crust is bridging instabilities lower in the snowpack and helping to increase stability. However, new snow and consistent winds from the South West will create small wind slabs below ridgelines on primarily North through East facing aspects. Be aware of drifted snow and changes in snow density at start zones on upper elevations for the safest riding. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New snow totals this morning range from 1.5” to 3” of 9% density SWE, with an additional 1-3” forecast for today. Pair that with steady 10mph winds from the Southwest, and gusts to 17mph last night, and that’s enough to build reactive wind slabs on the lee side of ridges.

    Look for pillows or dunes of chalky snow, shooting cracks and feel for density changes underfoot to identify where the wind has deposited snow with enough cohesion to form slabs. Listen for whoomphs as a tell-tale sign that a propagating slab avalanche is possible.

    (1/25/2024)

    Cracks shooting from skis on an eight inch thick wind slab.

    Photo: Mikey Church

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday we toured up Rabbit Gulch from the Burk Substation. Ski conditions were mixed and challenging at all elevations, managing exposed hazards, low visibility, a bullet proof crust and abrupt density changes. But it was fun to get out anyways.

All the rain and melt from last two weeks has infiltrated the entire snowpack and promoted strengthening and bonding of snow particles. A stout knife-hard crust from last week is bridging any lingering instabilities buried deeper in the snowpack. The upshot today is that the snowpack is pretty darn stable. The downside is that the fog and the stout knife-hard crust just below surface make for challenging skiing and riding conditions. Below 5,000’ we encountered too little snow to recreate off roads safely.

If you do get out there today, keep an eye out for wind slabs on north through east aspects below ridges as southwest winds blew a steady 10mph overnight with gusts to 17mph. In sheltered areas, where as much as 5” of new low density storm snow may accumulate on top of the knife-hard crust, be prepared to manage sluff that may entrain on steep slopes.

Good luck. Ski and ride safe!

Regions covered