Avalanche forecast

Selkirk Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist, but warm daytime temperatures and a lack of a solid overnight freeze may allow for small wet snow problems to develop in steep terrain. Frequently check how the surface conditions are changing, and target aspects that have a more supportable surface if you can punch into wet snow about a foot deep. Continue to use safe travel practices as you move through the mountains.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Above-freezing temperatures on Saturday will increase the likelihood of small, isolated wet snow avalanches as the day progresses. Steep, rocky terrain will be the most likely place to encounter wet avalanche activity. While reduced sunshine may help limit the severity of the wet snow problem, above-freezing temperatures will still melt and weaken surface snow.Expect a wide range of surface conditions depending on elevation and aspect. At higher elevations, cooler temperatures and a thick rain crust extending upward will help slow the development of soft, weakening surface snow. Lower elevations will warm more quickly and show signs of instability earlier in the day. Pay close attention to changing conditions as temperatures rise, and consider the potential consequences of even small avalanches if traveling in or below avalanche terrain.

    Debris from an older Loose Wet avalanche. Snow initially shed off the rocks and picked up more snow as it moved downhill, eventually straining into the tree line. 

    March 26, 2026. 

    Photo: Izzy Davis

Avalanche Discussion

Another day of warm temperatures and no new precipitation means that conditions will be fairly status quo to what they have been in the previous couple of days. Mid and high-level clouds will offer a break from prolonged sun exposure, but temperatures in the mountains will still climb into the 40s Fahrenheit. With ski resorts across the West starting to close down and more bare ground appearing each day, it sure seems like the season has really taken a turn and change is in the air. While the snowpack across the Panhandle has lost significant depth, avalanche concerns at middle and upper elevations are still a long way from being over.

On Friday, the Lookout Snotel site peaked at 57 degrees. All weather stations in the Silver Valley-Bitterroots remained above freezing overnight, and most stations to the north hovered just around freezing and likely developed a weak surface freeze. Less solar radiation today should help slow the development of wet snow problems, but warm ambient air temperatures will keep the possibility of small Loose Wet avalanches in the cards. Pay attention to how the snow surface changes with different aspects and elevations throughout the day, and favor slopes where the surface is supportable enough that you aren’t post-holing into punchy, wet snow up to your boot top.

As the seasons transition in the spring and a good diurnal cycle starts to happen, many enthusiastic skiers and riders will start to entertain the idea of poking into steeper, bigger terrain. If this resonates with you and you’re planning on trying to tick off some of those desired big line objectives, continue to use safe travel practices no matter the conditions. These include only exposing one person to avalanche terrain at a time, using good communication, and carrying the appropriate rescue gear. Spring weather and conditions can change quickly, so remaining flexible with your plans and monitoring changes can help set you up for success.

---

IPAC is now on the Avy app! View, submit, and share observations on the go using the AvyApp. Your backcountry observations are critical for building our avalanche forecasts. Avy provides a centralized location for core trip planning, and you can view streamlined, up-to-date avalanche and weather forecasts for your selected zone, using offline caching. Download Avy today - App Store and Google Play.

Regions covered