Avalanche forecast

Selkirk Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A spike in temperature following Thursday’s snowfall drove the rain line into upper elevation terrain, creating a thick and semi-supportable rain crust. Today’s avalanche hazard is focused around new snowfall and moderate southwest winds that will help drift snow into slabs. As you travel in the mountains, monitor changing surface conditions and look for new slabs building below ridgelines and around steep terrain features that catch snow. Expect slabs to become larger if snowfall rates increase.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    A strong storm impacted the forecast area on Thursday, bringing snowfall throughout the day and into the night. Late Thursday night, temperatures rose and winds increased, transitioning precipitation to rain up to approximately 6,000 feet. By Friday morning, temperatures cooled again, leaving behind a 10 cm thick, semi-supportable crust on the snow surface across all aspects.

    Field crews yesterday set out with powder turns in mind but were instead met with new snow that had been saturated and capped by a refrozen surface crust. Runnels were widely observed, clearly illustrating the extent of Thursday night’s rain event.

    As snow returns to the Panhandle today, we’ll be closely monitoring how well new snow bonds to this firm underlying surface. While traveling, pay close attention to recently wind-loaded terrain. These areas will most likely be found on the leeward sides of ridges and around terrain features that collect drifted snow. Signs of instability include cracking in the snow or the presence of freshly formed pillows of wind-drifted snow—both good indicators to avoid those areas. Avalanches today are expected to be small, but they could still knock you off your feet and carry you for a rough ride.

    A glassy sheen on the snow surface after a rain on snow event mixed with blustery winds. This slick surface will be what today's snowfall will be building on.

    December 19, 2025.

    Photo: Jackson George

Avalanche Discussion

Quick changes in the weather over the last several storm cycles have directly affected the snowpack. Oscillations between snow and rain have delivered welcomed amounts of new snow to the northern mountains but have also created various rain crusts.

Field teams set out yesterday with hopes of finding powder stashes, but these dreams were quickly dampened by the presence of a thick rain crust that developed late Thursday night and into the early morning hours on Friday. Following a day of light snowfall, temperatures quickly took a turn for the worst and rapidly increased above freezing. This significant warm up spiked the snow line further up the mountains, with the rain crust being observed up to 6400 feet in the Selkirks.

With some uncertainty surrounding how high exactly the previous rain event reached, some of the taller peaks in the northern end of the forecast area may have escaped the rain. Thankfully snowfall is on tap today, with temperatures anticipated to remain below freezing and peaks in the Selkirks and Cabinets are set up to benefit from orographic enhancement. This means that upper elevation terrain could beat the forecasted totals, and experience periods of moderate to strong snowfall.

Monitoring surface conditions and snowfall rates will be key today. As you’re travelling, if you feel a firm and supportable rain crust, then the hazard is likely confined to the snow above it. However, if you venture into higher elevation terrain and notice that the rain crust diminishes, be aware that larger slabs may be present. Look for surface clues like cracking under your feet or feeling a transition to a punchy Styrofoam-like surface and let this feedback guide your terrain choices. If you encounter these surface changes or see snow actively drifting below ridgelines, identify some lower angle terrain and pivot your travel plans to accommodate that.

Looking ahead, we will be monitoring how the new snow bonds and reacts to the various rain crusts in the snowpack. With an active weather pattern expected to continue for the foreseeable future, be ready to adjust to changing conditions.    

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