Avalanche forecast

Silver Valley & Bitterroot Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

New snow falling on light powder will make excellent riding conditions today. However, wind slabs will build throughout the day and surface hoar buried in specific areas has become a persistent weak layer. High winds and active loading will increase wind slab avalanche danger throughout today and into the weekend. Actively look for these two avalanche problems and assess terrain carefully. You can always default to lower angle, low consequence terrain, that will be really fun riding this weekend.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New snow, accompanied by wind, is in the forecast today. Combine this with cold, light, snow from earlier in the week and we have ingredients for wind slabs. Look for the tell-tale signs of wind slabs: chalky appearance, hollow feeling pillows, and of course pay attention to shooting cracks.

    Sustained southwesterly winds in the upper teens and lower 20’s, and gusts approaching 40mph, are forecast for today through the weekend. The cold light snow from earlier in the week and new falling snow will be available for transport. Look for wind slabs building on leeward terrain features on the northeast half of the compass at upper and mid elevations.

    (2/3/2022)

    Here you can see the sheer qunatity of wind transported snow at ridgeline.

    Photo: Caitlin Bailey

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Last week we saw widespread growth of well-developed surface hoar. Solar radiation and winds knocked this down in many places, but getting a handle on where exactly it was buried intact and preserved is difficult. It is most likely preserved on open, wind sheltered, and sun shaded slopes. Watch for red flags like whoomphing or shooting cracks and look for this layer by digging many hasty pits. It will appear as a grayish band buried approximately 8-14 inches below the surface.

    (1/31/2022)

    Close up of visible surface hoar in the crown of this avalanche, a soft slab remotely triggered on a 30 degree slope, NE aspect, 6000'. Lookout Pass area.

    SS-ASr-R3-D1.5-I

    Photo: Ryan Matz

Avalanche Discussion

The new snow we received this week came in cold and light, which has made for excellent riding conditions. However, a healthy sense of skepticism should color your decision making today as the new snow may mask underlying avalanche problems.

We toured up a north aspect toward Burke Summit from Cooper Pass yesterday, looking for buried surface hoar. Although we were unable to find it, this remains a significant concern moving forward. Where last week’s well-developed surface hoar was buried intact it has become a dangerous persistent weak layer. This is the type of problem that can lay hidden or dormant in isolated pockets until it jumps out and bites someone. Keep looking for this layer.

Avalanche danger will trend upward throughout the day today and into the weekend as new snow and wind load avalanche terrain. You can enjoy really fun skiing and riding today by making good terrain choices and giving yourself a healthy margin of error.

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