Regular avalanche advisories will begin on December 18th. Avalanche conditions will be posted to the web for the Cabinet-Selkirk area, Kootenai N.F. and the Silver Valley on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 7 A.M. See discussion below for current conditions.

The Idaho Portion of our forecast region is under a Winter Storm Warning for tonight and Friday.  The Kootenai forecast region in Montana is under a Winter Weather Advisory for the same time period.  The next round of weather is expected to bring heavy amounts of snow to the high country beginning Thursday night.  High winds are forecast tomorrow with strong gusts likely.  This will set up the first potential for avalanche conditions this year, mostly at the highest elevations.

The Idaho Portion of our forecast region is under a Winter Storm Warning for tonight and Friday.  The Kootenai forecast region in Montana is under a Winter Weather Advisory for the same time period.  The next round of weather is expected to bring heavy amounts of snow to the high country beginning Thursday night.  High winds are forecast tomorrow with strong gusts likely.  This will set up the first potential for avalanche conditions this year, mostly at the highest elevations.

As of March 26th, IPAC has ended backcountry avalanche forecasting due to the Idaho and Washington stay-at-home orders.  

Last advisory of the year!! Current snowpack conditions are looking stable overall. With some light snow accumulations this past week, and strong southwest winds yesterday, it will be possible to trigger pockets of windslab at upper elevations. Use caution in steep terrain on north and easterly aspects, steep rolls and chutes. These will be the spots to be wary of this weekend

As of March 26th, IPAC has ended backcountry avalanche forecasting due to the Idaho and Washington stay-at-home orders.  

As the temperatures heats up during the sunny days, expect the avalanche danger to rise. Wet, loose slide potential is a danger that is easy to mitigate: when you start seeing rollerballs or sinking in slushy snow, it's time to head out of avalanche terrain.  And give those cornices a wide berth, they start failing as the temperatures heat up.  

I'm sorry we had to close up shop early this year but spring is tomorrow and I'll leave you with some Spring Touring Tips that everyone can use.  I'll also update you on our snowpack conditions.  Even though we had a short winter, by my standards, things are looking pretty good in the high country so there is plenty of snow to continue riding and sliding.  Melissa and Ben will submit advisories through March.

Consolidated snowpack conditions with extreme upper elevations on NNE aspects having some wind slabs.  Surface crusts are widespread due to sun affect this past week.  More snow coming with NE winds and cold temperatures.  Expect windslabs on thin crust this coming weekend.

Expect to find good stability with a few lingering wind slabs on Friday. As the cold system rolls in Friday afternoon and starts delivering snow, expect the avalanche danger to increase for Saturday. Before stepping out check the stability at your location, the new snow is going to fall on a variety of surfaces.  And don't forget to pack your puffy jacket, temperatures are taking a big downward swing!

Low danger does not mean no danger! Watch for lingering, small wind slabs on leeward terrain.  When the sun is out, the potential for the southern aspects to heat up enough for loose wet avalanches is a possibility. Be on the lookout for changing snow conditions. 

Powder.  It's out there and deeper than I expected.  Surface conditions across the landscape are variable due to sun and warmer temperatures.  Due north still holds powder snow but also the surfacehoar layer.  It is well bonded now but still intact.  Use caution on steep, convex northerly terrain.  Springlike conditions are beginning to happen.

Firm wind hammered and crust conditions with some chalky snow conditions in isolated hard North aspects that were protected from mid week winds.  5-9 inches expected by later Saturday will be the primary concern keeping in mind that there are currently stubborn persistent weak layers in the upper snowpack.  

Pay attention to steep and open timber on the shady side of the mountain right now. This where you may be able to trigger an avalanche on the buried surface hoar that is lurking out there. 4-9" of new snow is forecast to fall by Saturday afternoon above 5,000'. Pay attention to how this new snow is setting up on Saturday and Sunday and be alert to the potential for thin storm slabs to develop.

Yesterday in the Cabinets I found good sliding conditions but a little crusty on the southerly slopes.  Not much stability concerns on these slopes due to multiple crusts in the upper pack.  However, on Lunch Peak I found two very distinct layers of buried surface hoar on a north aspect.  Be careful on steep, convex terrain on NE - N - NW aspects.  The wind has cranked up too so watch for windslabs on these aspects too.  

Stable temperatures and a calmer atmosphere has allowed the snowpack to strengthen in most areas. Mother nature has kept us on our toes this winter. We've encountered many different problems in the snowpack and seen the snowpack's ability to go from very weak to super stable and back quickly. Currently to 2 forces driving our snowpack stability are wind and warming temperatures. Read more to see below to see how they're both effecting the snow.

As the temperature rises today, the snowpack will become more unstable. Look for rollerballs as an indicator that it has wamed up and to stay out of avalanche terrain. We still have a lurking buried persistent weak layer on our cooler, sheltered aspects. Dig down to assess the location where you are in to see if it is there. 

Snowfall continued in the Cabinets yesterday and it amounted to about a foot of light powder in the last 24 hours as of yesterday afternoon.  Watch for windslabs at the ridges and be aware that the buried surface hoar layer we found in the Selkirks is buried about 18 inches deep on sheltered aspects.  Manage your terrain and you'll have great sliding.

Soft snow conditions consisting of preserved good quality snow from last weeks storms.  Cool temperatures and light winds have created ideal surface snow conditions with soft snow on top and getting more dense as you go down to the hard ice crust a foot and a half down.  

Wind slabs from earlier in the week have become stable and resistant to triggering. There are some persistent weak layers in the upper snowpack but are showing a low likelihood of propagating into an avalanche. Use extra caution in the mountains of the Purcell Range (NW Peaks area). Elevations above 6,500' in the Purcells will have the highest potential for human triggered avalanches at this time. Read on for details!!

New snow and wind have been loading the snowpack this past weekend. Have some extra caution on wind loaded slopes. The prevailing winds were out of the Southwest so look for most of the new loading on northeast through southeast slopes. Cornices have grown quite a bit as well. Be aware of your location when approaching cornices. Enjoy the sunshine!

Breezy winds have blown out the surface hoar on exposed slopes and firm bed surface exists due to Feb 1 ice crust and wind effect.  Sheltered areas may have small surface hoar formation.  New snow on the way with forecasted accumulations through the weekend.

A series of storms will bring modest snow accumulations to the mountains through Monday. This new snow is forecasted to arrive with strong southwest winds. Expect to find thin and reactive slabs on north and east aspects that will build in thickness and hazard throught the weekend. These slabs will be most concerning at upper elevations where the new snow will rest on a very firm bed surface that has been packed and scoured by strong winds this past week.

A weak interface with the Feb 1st crust is still reacting to human triggers in some of the shadier locations. Take the time to assess your location to see if this is located where you are riding or sliding.  Expect wind loaded north and east aspects and give them a wide berth while they heal. Weather is stable for the next couple days, so we don't expect the problems to change midweek. 

The upper two feet of the snowpack is riddled with crusts now due to the wildly changing temperatures since mid-January. There are some weak layers that could be problematic where they are buried deeper or get buried deeper after the next round of snow.

For Friday anticipate the possibility to trigger small pockets of dense wind slabs above 6,000' in elevation where northwest winds have deposited loose surface snow onto southerly aspects. By Saturday morning the avalanche danger will likely rise with a predicted storm expected to bring 8-12 inches of new snow to the mountains and strong southwest winds. New snow may bond poorly with the existing surface in many locations.

Rain soaked our snowpack on Friday and Saturday up to 7,500'. This left us with LOW avalanche danger, a very hard crust layer and less than pleasant riding conditions. Anticipate a possible change going into Wednesday as modest amounts of snow begin to fall on this ice crust. New snow will bond poorly to this crust layer and possibly result in increasing avalanche danger on Wednesday and Thursday.

There are multiple weak layers in the uper two feet of the pack right now. The warmer temperatures today and tomorrow will weaken those layers and rain will add weight. Natural avalanches could be possible today and tomorrow. It might be a good weeekend to watch a football game or something.

Warm temperatures and rain up to 7,500' are being forecast for Friday afternoon. Anticipate avalanche danger to rise on Friday at all elevations. Avoid avalanches by avoiding be on or below steep terrain on Friday and Saturday. Natural avalanches may be possible and human triggered avalanches are likely on Friday.

The Selkirks and Cabinet mountains continue to be in an active weather pattern. Another period of unsettled weather will begin today and carry through the weekend. The avalanche danger will increase as the new snow arrives. Always assume the new snow will increase the avalanche danger. New snow usually takes a couple days after a big snow, to adjust to the old snow . I'd expect the avalanche danger to trend up over the next 48 hours.

A warm storm hitting our area will continue to add heavy, dense snow to our higher elevations (above ~5500ft) and rain below.  Expect to see small loose wet slides at the lower and middle elevations. At the upper elevations expect to see dense storm slabs that are forming over the weaker lighter snow from last weekend.  

Hazard rating of Moderate on upper elevations with slopes greater than 35 degrees due to expected snowfall today and temperatures at or near freezing.  The new snow may be heavy and dense on top of a few inches of heavy wet snow from yesterday that sits atop softer snow from last week.  

Stable weather has allowed the snowpack to gain strength, expect to find low conditions for Tuesday. Use normal avalanche caution to evaluate before you ride exposed terrain. Expect danger to increase on Wednesday due to the new snow coming in Tuesday afternoon and night. This will cause storms slabs and wind slabs.    

There is alot of new snow out there. You'll find deep powder conditions on all aspects. Watch for weak layers in the upper two to three feet, some may be associated with windslabs. We did to find anyting too nasty in the last weeks storm snow.  Normal caution is advised.

Be on the lookout for the potential to trigger wind slabs in steep terrain below ridgelines and cornices. There is extensive evidence of wind loading in the mountains and these wind slabs are becoming less reactive with time. Recent Storm snow is quickly settling and gaining strength but still has potential to fail at upper elevations. 

Storm snow from the past weekend is starting to stabilize but still has potential to trigger avalanches. Watch out for wind slabs on steep terrain below ridges and cornices. We have a break in the weather so conditions should continue to stabilize. 

Heavy snowfall and strong winds entered the area on Friday and will continue to impact the mountains of North Idaho and Northwest Montana throughout the weekend. Avoid riding on or below steep terrain this weekend as the new storm will be easily triggered.  Avalanche paths and runouts will also be of concern as slides could step down to deeper weak layers and run long distances. 

Heavy snowfall and strong winds entered the area on Friday and will continue to impact the mountains of North Idaho and Northwest Montana throughout the weekend. Avoid riding on or below steep terrain this weekend as the new storm will be easily triggered.  Avalanche paths and runouts will also be of concern as slides could step down to deeper weak layers and run long distances. 

For Friday the Avalanche Danger will be rated as Considerable with the potential to rise by Saturday morning due to another storm system entering the area. Avoid terrain over 35° particularly on north and east aspects where winds have loaded steep slopes. 

A strong winter storm continues to produce heavy snow and wind across the forecast area. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry. Strong winds combined with new snow will create an unstable snowpack on all aspects above treeline. Travel in the backcountry is not recommended

Continued high avalanche danger due to rapid loading with new snow and wind slabs over the buried persistent weak layers. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. Expect conditions to stay elevated through mid week.

Heavy mountain snowfall and strong winds will create conditions for HIGH avalanche danger today! Expect these dangerous conditions to remain elevated through the middle of the week. Avoid riding on or below any slopes steeper than 30° during this time period.

Snowpack conditions are becoming highly variable with regard to aspect and elevation. Your biggest concern is colder snow on north aspects that hold a weak layer below the current surface crust. Use caution on steep, complex terrain on northerly aspects. 

There is a alot of variance in the snowpack and some tricky weak layers across the area right now. Storm slabs resting on buried surface hoar will be the primary concern and may become more sensitve on Friday if the temperatures rise at mid-elevations. Stick to lower angle terrain and take the time to assess the snowpack before committing to steep slopes.

Out with the old and in with the new...doesn’t exactly translate to snowpack and avalanche risk. Still of concern are our persistent weak layers. They are getting more stable, but could be woken up again with new loading. Wednesday will bring us some different problems to consider for the first day of 2020; storm slabs and windslabs. Expect the avalanche danger to rise as the next storm cycle hits. 

Our main concern is still buried persistent weak layers that have the potential to slide to ground.  Areas where the ground surface is smooth, such as beargrass slopes, have a higher probablity of sliding if an avalanche is triggered. We expect to continue to see reactive persistent weak layers for a while with the weather pattern that we are experiencing. Bottom line is we have a thin and weak snowpack.

The snowpack has bonded well after last weeks storm. The biggest threat right now will be small windslabs in steep terrain at elevations above 6,500' on northeasterly terrain near ridgelines. Continue to use caution in high terrain where the snowpack appears to be thin and rocky as these may be locations where deeper weak layers may be senstitive to human triggers.

Put away the rain gear.  The temperatures have dropped, winds are calm, and the snowpack has settled.  A new rain crust has formed near the surface and about 6 inches of new snow sits on top of that with a decent bond to the crust.  Use caution in steeper terrain at elevations above 6,000 feet.

Heavy, dense snow as well as some rain hit the region last night on top of the lighter snow we recieved yesterday. This creates an upside down pack that will take time to stabilize, especially in shallower areas where there are buried persistent weak layers.  The winds have been steady so expect to find windloading as well.