Selkirk Mountains

A relatively shallow and mainly stable snowpack exists. Unburied objects in the shallow snowpack are the main hazards. Isolated ridge top areas may see an increase in hazard if new snow amounts and winds are higher than expected.

A slight shift in weather is anticipated to bring minor precipitation today, with snow accumulations expected to be a few inches. Temperatures are forecasted to rise during this brief storm, accompanied by light to moderate southerly winds. Avalanche risk is likely to increase in isolated areas where new snow is wind-loaded, particularly on ridge-top East-North-West aspects.

Currently, surface hoar has been identified as a potential next weak layer. Approximately 6 inches of new snow from last Friday-Saturday, Dec. 22-23, overlays a rain crust from Wednesday 12/20, measuring 1-3 inches thick and largely supportive. Beneath this layer is cohesive snow constituting the middle section of the snowpack, while the lower 1/3 consists of an early December rain crust. The 12/20 rain crust near the surface is currently beneficial for burying vegetation and partially/mostly bridging the snowpack below. However, elevational variations and uncertainties regarding the formation of the rain crust weak layer contribute to the complexity of the current snowpack.

**Education reminder- Youth Backcountry 101 class (ages 13-17) is February 9th (evening) and February 10th (Schweitzer). If you have a youth getting into the backcountry, this is the class for them! Sign up on our website- idahopanhandleavalanche.org