Avalanche forecast

Selkirk Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Wet loose avalanches remain possible for you to initiate in steep terrain near and below treeline as temperatures hover near freezing today. Slightly cooler temperatures at higher elevations may reduce the likelihood of wet avalanches. Pockets of new wind slab could form above treeline today as increasing NE wind affects our 3-6” of new snow. Either avalanche problem should be on the small side, though heavy enough to take you for a ride. You can manage today’s avalanche problems by choosing terrain less than 35 degrees in slope angle and by avoiding high consequence runouts.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    If you find soft, moist surface snow wet loose avalanches will remain possible. You could easily initiate these heavy sluffs on particularly steep terrain. Slight warming makes likelihood of wet loose avalanches greatest this afternoon, but the lack of a hard freeze overnight means you could find wet, sloppy conditions this morning as well. This avalanche problem will be unlikely anywhere you find a crust or other signs of refreezing snow.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Precipitation fell as snow yesterday and last night above 4500’, totaling 3-6”. While dense, increasing NE wind today could transport this snow and build wind slabs. Watch for blowing and wind deposited snow above treeline, knowing that any pockets of new snow deeper than a few inches are probably wind slab. You should be able to avoid these generally small pockets of wind slab by avoiding steep south and west facing terrain near wind exposed ridges.

    (3/3/2022)

    5" of new, dense snow over the very wet snow affected by rain this week as of Noon on Thursday, 3/3. Near Round Top, 6,000', in the Selkirks and Cabinets forecast zone.

    Photo: Ryan Matz

Avalanche Discussion

The weather is finally feeling a little like winter after a very warm and wet week. Significant rain fell at least as high as 6,500’ Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures finally dipped below freezing last night for the first time since Tuesday. Low elevations and some south faces lost quite a bit if snow, but plenty of snow remain in our mountains. On the bright side, moisture seems to have penetrated at least as deep as our pesky January 12th crust and the solid refreeze occurring this weekend should stabilize our persistent weak layers. This reset of the upper snowpack should limit our focus to new snow instabilities for at least a little while, if not the rest of the season.

Expect a mixed bag of snow conditions today with everything from surface crusts, sloppy wet snow, and some new snow scattered around our terrain. Tonight should bring the first good freeze of this week as temperatures drop below 20F. The little bit of new snow should provide some decent riding conditions today and through the weekend. Watch for our avoidable avalanche problems and enjoy a few days of pleasant weather!

A few spots are open in Wilderness First Aid for Winter Backcountry Users and Avalanche Level 2 IPAC classes. Take advantage of these great opportunities to improve your skills with knowledgeable local instructors. Check them out here!

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