Avalanche forecast

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Tempatures have not been dropping enough at night the last couple nights to completely refreeze the snowpack, therefore we're dealing with a soupy mess out there in the 4000-6000' range on everything but north aspects.  Throughout the forecast area nightime temperatures have been 28-34 degrees with daytime highs up to 50 degrees at some sites.  Loose wet slides will be more easily triggered throughout the next few days until the snowpack starts to freeze up again.  These slides could step down to the deeper weak layers within the snowpack.  Your best bet is to stay on north facing terrain for the next few days.

We aren't seeing as much reactivity out of the buried weak layers, particularly the January surface hoar layer, but it is still intact and possible to trigger with enough weight or where the snowpack is shallow.  The consequences have only gone up due to the depth and strength of the slab above the weak layers.  Continue to make conservative choices and dig pits before venturing into steep, avalanche prone terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Spring is here and that means it's time to pay attention to the affects of the sun and temperature on the snowpack.  The last few nights temperatures remained at or barely below freezing, so the snowpack has not maintained the typical spring melt/freeze cycle.  That means the snow is turning to MUSH and loose wet slides will be easily triggered in steep terrain and convex rolls.  Wet loose avalanches will be possible earlier in the day because of the added weight and moisture on the snowpack.  Watch for roller balls, pinwheeling, cornice fall and glide cracks and if you see these indicators it's time to move to a more off sun-baked slopes.  The forecast calls for more cloud cover today, but with the warm nights wet slides are still possible.  

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    3–4

    The January problem child is still around.  The surface hoar layer on top of the January rain crust is buried between 40 and 120 cm deep across the forecast area.  The rain crust is breaking down and decomposing, but the surface hoar is still intact in many locations.  In the Purcell's where the snowpack is shallow, the surface hoar has not collapsed and will be more easily triggered.  In most locations in the Cabinets we have not seen much reactivity out of the surface hoar layer the last couple weeks.  Avalanches will not be easily triggered on the layers deep within the snowpack, but a large cornice fall or heavy load on a weak spot could produce a very large avalanche.  It is also possible that loose wet slides will step down to the deeper weak layers as the temperatures rise.   Continue to think about what the consequence of a deep slab avalanche would be and make wise terrain decisions!

Avalanche Discussion

The lack of a melt/freeze cycle the last few nice makes for sloppy skiing and riding and increases the likelyhood of wet slides.  Pay attention to the indicators, glide cracks, cornice fall and pinwheels and move to the cold side of the mountain if you're seeing them.  Wet slides may go from being manageable and small to very large if they step down to the weaker layers within the snowpack.   The best conditions will be on northerly aspects the next few days until things start freezing at night again.  

Regions covered