Avalanche forecast

Selkirk Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Weak snow layers concealed below a slab 2 to 4 feet deep remain capable of failing and producing a large avalanche, but are becoming more difficult to trigger as the slab above settles and stiffens. Look for and identify wind-drifted areas with a lens-shaped appearance as these surface slabs overlap on many of the same slopes with deeper snowpack concerns. Be mindful of where you are in the terrain by knowing what’s directly above or below you, factoring the “what-if” scenario of triggering a larger avalanche, and default to wind-sheltered slopes less than about 35 degrees to help reduce your avalanche risk.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–2.5

    Over the last several days, the lack of significant snow load and settlement has helped stiffen layers above and below multiple persistent weak layers. The same weak layers responsible for the notable uptick in avalanche activity during most of February. An avalanche triggered in any one of these buried layers - surface hoar or faceted snow around crusts - would be large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. Now that the complex array of suspect layers gets a break from the steady new snow load and tries to find equilibrium, the likelihood to get into trouble decreases with each passing day, but the dangerous potential will dangle in the wind for some time. 

    Classic red flags like shooting cracks, audible collapses, and fresh avalanches have almost completely diminished making problems lurking below harder to detect. While the persistent weak layer setup may be slowly trending in the right direction, unstable snowpack tests and frequent reports of recent natural avalanches confirm our deeper snowpack concerns remain intact for now. Aspects that primarily face north through east have produced the most recent and largest avalanches, and where lingering reactivity in snowpack tests have been observed. Continue to make thoughtful terrain decisions and give yourself an extra margin while the snowpack trends to being less suspect.

    (2/26/2026)

    With the 2/14 buried surface hoar 2 to 4 feet below the surface, an avalanche triggered on that layer would be large to very large, and be a high-consequence scenario. 

    February 26, 2026. 

    Photo: Izzy Davis

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Several consecutive days of strong winds have transported snow farther down slopes below ridgelines than is typical. Sustained southwest winds in the previous days have built deeper, dense slabs on leeward aspects and around steep, prominent terrain features. Wind speeds will decrease on Sunday, and in turn, these slabs may be more difficult to trigger, but could propagate widely across the slope. Expect to encounter pockets of wind-drifted snow at mid and upper elevations, especially near ridgetops.

    Gusty winds have also cross-loaded slopes, depositing snow into gullies, convex rollovers, and other terrain features regardless of aspect. These firm slabs can be identified by feeling a transition on the surface snow from soft to firm and punchy. Observing long cracks extending in front of your skis or boards is another indicator that the wind has been at work consolidating the snow into a cohesive slab. If you encounter these signs, adjust your route to sheltered aspects or lower-angle terrain. Use cautious route finding when traveling near, above, or below wind-affected areas.

    Strong winds from the west and southwest have been transporting the recent snow on the leeward side of ridges, around steep terrain features, and on open, exposed slopes. A recent avalanche that failed from the new wind loading can be seen below the cornice and along the tree line. 

    February 26, 2026. 

    Photo: Izzy Davis

Avalanche Discussion

For those needing a bit of spring-like weather, take advantage of the next 48 hours. Mountain conditions will be really nice for recreational activities without needing to hide in sheltered areas to avoid the wind. Don’t let the sunny skies cloud your memory about what’s buried below and frame terrain selections to account for the looming potential to trigger a larger than desired avalanche. 

The warm, quiet weather is expected to nudge the triggering threat a bit lower with each passing day but the exact pace for our persistent grains to be unreactive is unknown at this time. Mostly because we know slabs gain strength faster than weaker layers below do. We are still taking snowpack structure stock following the prolonged, complex conditions and uptick in activity, and are still treating steeper slopes guilty till proven otherwise. If you do find the shallow trigger spot, the ensuing avalanche will likely be of a size you don’t want to mess with.

Now that wind speeds have relaxed, drifting concerns are expected to become stubborn rather quick but isolated, more reactive slabs may linger as you move higher in elevation. Areas directly below ridges, on sidewalls of gullies, and behind steep convex rolls are the common places for drifted areas to be a nuisance for longer. Windward slopes where the wind had more of a pressing influence on the snow surface could offer safer travel options. The leeward side of terrain likely harbors stiffer snow layers directly on top of softer ones, and how stiff or textured the snow surface is are clues to help guide you around lingering drifted slabs.

Now that March is upon us, we need to start incorporating surface warming evaluations into the avalanche hazard formula. Following clear skies and cold temperatures at night, surface warming is usually slower to evolve but can happen faster in sheltered areas or on heavily vegetated slopes. Watch for rollerballs and pinwheels as initial clues of this transition and monitor how deep you sink into wet snow if you see them. More than about 6 inches of wet snow suggests moving to colder, shadier slopes for recreation.

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