Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Strong winds out of the north and east have created pockets of wind slab on all aspects and elevations in terrain that is open and exposed to the wind. Wind slabs are likely to be triggered in terrain steeper than 35 degrees below ridgelines and in steep chutes that have been cross loaded by the wind. You can avoid avalanches today by riding in lower angle terrain that is sheltered from the winds, these locations are where you will also find the softest snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Earlier in the week the mountains of the Kootenai picked up over a foot of snow that fell from Sunday through Tuesday morning. As the cold front moved in Wednesday the winds switched to a north and easterly direction and blew hard through Thursday. These winds will decrease on Friday, but the effects will be widespread on our snowpack in open terrain. The formation of wind slabs will be found on most any aspect where the loose snow collected and packed into cohesive slabs. Locations to be wary of include south and west aspects directly below ridgelines and any steep chute where the snow deposited as winds blew across the slope. It is likely you will trigger one of these slabs if you choose to ride in steep terrain Friday. As time goes on these slabs will become more difficult to trigger, but avoiding steep and open terrain this weekend will be the safest bet for reducing your avalanche risk. 

Regions covered