Avalanche forecast

Silver Valley & Bitterroot 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

Continued warm weather makes wet loose avalanches likely and cornice failures possible at the warmest time of day. A natural, human, or cornice fall triggered wet loose avalanche could entrain enough snow to bury you on a large slope or in a terrain trap. They can also easily push you towards hazards like rocks and cliffs. You can avoid this avalanche problem by staying off and out from below slopes steeper than 35 degrees until a refreeze creates more supportable surface snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Wet loose slides should remain your primary concern on steep terrain at all aspects and elevations, as above freezing day and night temperatures continue for most of the St. Regis and Silver Valley zone. Large slopes at upper elevations could produce large wet loose avalanches. Smaller wet loose slides should become likely on any steep slopes today, especially those exposed to direct sunshine. It’s worth waiting until a refreeze brings stability before choosing high consequence terrain. Continue to manage this avalanche problem by avoiding steep slopes with sloppy surface snow that allows your boots to penetrate much beyond your ankle.

  • Cornices

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

    Many days and nights of above freezing temperatures also weaken cornices which developed over the winter. While unlikely except at the warmest time of day, these large blocks of snow of could break off naturally and would be stressed by the added weight of you or a snowmobile. A dropping cornice can easily trigger a wet loose avalanche. Use caution approaching the edge of steep slopes from ridgelines, knowing it can be hard to see a cornice until you’re already on it. You can find the largest cornices on the east and north side of ridgelines, built by our prevailing southwesterly winds all winter.

Avalanche Discussion

A spring-like upper snowpack has replaced the wintry conditions of early last week. Moist to wet snow now exists from the surface to at least a few feet down, with warming and percolating melt water penetrating deeper with each warm day. The last true refreeze for most of the St. Regis and Silver Valley zone occurred last Wednesday night, with above freezing nighttime temperatures and daytime highs near and above 50F since then. Sunday was the warmest day and helped some of our steep slopes naturally shed some loose, wet surface snow, but plenty should still sluff readily as temperatures push over 40F today. On the bright side, the nearly week-long period of melt eliminates our persistent weak layer concerns and should result in excellent and mostly stable spring riding conditions once weather cools to a daily melt/nightly refreeze cycle. Look for cooler weather later this week and exercise a little patience before jumping on steep terrain!

Regions covered