Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Generally stable snowpack conditions are present across the Kootenai Zone. Triggering a small, wet loose avalanche is possible in steep terrain that has been exposed to the sun. You can avoid avalanches today by paying attention to the surface conditions of the snowpack. Move away from steep slopes exposed to direct sun and seek shaded terrain in the afternoon. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Sunny skies will soften the surface of the snowpack today and cause wet-loose avalanches to become possible in steep terrain on any aspect that receives direct sun. Cold nights will refreeze the surface of the snowpack and lock it back together creating stable conditions in the morning. As the snowpack surface warms and softens up during the day, you will want to avoid steep slopes that are being cooked by the sun. Relocate to more north facing slopes where you can still find good powder above 5,000'.

Avalanche Discussion

Our current snowpack is in a generally stable state with avalanche concerns being small and easy to manage. The sun will continue to be the main driver of avalanche problems through Wednesday as it warms up and creates the potential for small, point release avalanches in steep terrain. With cold nights present, the upper snowpack will refreeze and lock together. This will result in firm and stable conditions each morning on aspects exposed to direct sun. By afternoon you may see the surface of the snowpack become soft and slushy. This will be your clue that it is time to avoid steep terrain or relocate to more shaded aspects.

Speaking of spring, there are a few things worth paying attention to as it warms up each day. Cornice fall and glide crack avalanches will start to enter into the realm of potential problems as it warms up each day. I am starting to see a few cracks and broken cornices in the East Cabinets. These issues are unpredictable, but easy to manage if you keep an eye on the slopes above you. Just avoid being underneath them as it warms up during the day. Managing hazards in the mountains during the spring boils down to avoiding being on or below steep slopes that are getting cooked by the sun in the afternoon hours.

Our last avalanche advisory will be posted April 1st.

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