Bulletin d’avalanche

East Cabinet Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sun
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
2 · Modéré
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 3 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Today's avalanche problems are driven by the sun and weak layers near the snowpack surface. Small and wet point release avalanches are likely in steep terrain that is exposed to direct sunlight. Slab avalanches are possible in steep terrain at tree line and above, with east aspects being of highest concern today. You can avoid avalanches today by paying attention to the surface conditions of the snowpack. Move away from steep slopes exposed to direct sun and seek shaded terrain in the afternoon. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–2

    This past Monday the mountains received 8-16" of dense and cohesive snow at elevations above 5,000'. This most recent storm snow is resting on weak interfaces of lower density snow and sun crusts. It remains possible to trigger an avalanche in the upper layer of our snowpack in terrain steeper than 35 degrees. Steep and east facing terrain that was loaded by winds during Monday will be the most likely location to trigger a slab avalanche today. Thursday, we observed multiple crowns of avalanches that had released on Tuesday and Wednesday. We also observed fresh slab avalanches that released Thursday on easterly aspects as they cooked in the mid-day sun.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely
    Taille
    1–1.5

    Sunny skies will soften the surface of the snowpack today and cause wet-loose avalanches in steep terrain on any aspect that receives direct sun. Cold nights will refreeze the surface of the snowpack and lock it back together creating stable conditions in the morning. As the snowpack surface warms and softens up during the day, you will want to avoid steep slopes that are being cooked by the sun. Relocate to more north facing slopes where you can still find good powder above 5,000'.

Avalanche Discussion

Thursday's tour into the Cabinets revealed that spring truly is right around the corner, and spring avalanche problems have arrived. Conditions are very much driven by the sun and the resulting fluctuations in temperature. Warm, sunny days and cold nights predicted through Sunday will create a predictable scenario in the mountains through the weekend. Steep slopes that are exposed to direct sunlight during the day will become loose, soft and prone to releasing small avalanches, The longer the slope is exposed to the sun, the more avalanche prone it will become. This fact was very evident Thursday as we observed wet-loose avalanche activity increase on south and west aspects, with a few small slab avalanches releasing on east facing terrain. Cornice failure will also become more likely during the warm afternoon hours and is an overhead hazard worth paying attention to this time of year. Large cornices falling onto steep slopes is often the trigger of larger avalanches during warm spring days. During the evening hours, temperatures will drop back down into the low twenties. This drop in temperatures will refreeze the upper snowpack and lock it back together, resulting in stable conditions during the morning hours. Slopes that are safe and firm in the morning, will become soft and prone to avalanches in the afternoon.

Riding conditions remain quite nice on north aspects at elevations above 5,000'. Below approximately 5,000' in elevation the rain crust from last Monday's storm can be felt on all aspects. Weather conditions will change on Sunday night, as the area is forecast to move back into a more active weather pattern with frequent pulses of light snowfall predicted at upper elevations.

Régions couvertes