Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Wet loose avalanches that are large enough to bury a human will be very likely today. Avalanche hazard will remain HIGH throughTuesday on slopes that are exposed to the sun.  Minimize your exposure to this hazard by travelling on ridgelines and avoid being in or below terrain that is steeper than 30 degrees. Avoid stopping or travelling in avalanche run-out paths today as larger slab avalanches are becoming more likely each day with continued warm temperatures.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3.5

    Overnight temperatures at upper elevations failed to drop back below the freezing mark and today's high temps at upper elevations will again climb back up into the 50's. This will continue to weaken the snowpack and increase the likelihood of failure at deeper weak layers in the snowpack. With free water now percolating through the snowpack "glide cracks" are starting to appear causing avalanches to release on bed surfaces such as rock slabs and grass. Climax avalanches and deeper failures are difficult to predict and can only be managed by avoiding steep terrain today.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1

    Winds that blew during our previous storms have built large cornices overhanging ridgelines on north and east aspects. Many of them have started to fail and break off, often cornice fall is the trigger that creates larger avalanches deeper in the snowpack. Again, this is a problem that may be difficult to predict and can only be managed by avoidance. Give slopes with large overhanging cornices a wide berth until our snowpack refreezes.

  • Loose Wet

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

    The sun will be out in full force today with temperatures at upper elevations predicted to reach the 50's. With abundant amounts of soft snow on the snowpack surface it is very likely that wet loose avalanches will be releasing naturally today and will be large enough to bury a skier or snowmobiler. While these loose avalanches are often perceived as relatively harmless, we need to give them a little more respect this weekend as temperatures get progressively warmer. This problem will become even more of a concern by Saturday/ Sunday as overnight lows have failed to drop below the freezing mark and daytime highs continue to climb. You can avoid wet loose avalanches today by avoiding slopes exposed to the sun, especially in the afternoon hours. Safer conditions and better snow will be found in terrain that is north facing or shaded in low angle timber.

    Photo: Ben Bernall

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