AVAOTX
The following message is transmitted at the request of the Idaho
Panhandle Avalanche Center.
The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center in Sandpoint has issued a
BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH for the following areas:
NWS Spokane WA – ID 017 (Bonner County)…ID 021 (Boundary
County)…ID 079 (Shoshone County)
* WHAT…An Avalanche Watch is in effect from Saturday 6 AM PST to
Sunday 6 AM PST. Very dangerous avalanche conditions are likely
to develop by Sunday morning and raise the danger to High
(Level 4of5).
* WHERE…The Selkirk, West and East Cabinet, Purcell, and
Bitterroot Mountains – Silver Valley above 4,000 feet.
* WHEN…In effect from Sat 06:00 PST to Sun 06:00 PST.
* IMPACTS…A warm, wet storm will deliver a combination of dense
storm snow and moderate to heavy rainfall to the snowpack. The
snow line will likely rise to between 6,000 and 7,000 feet by
Sunday evening. The combination of strong winds and rain
saturating the upper snowpack may be sufficient to overload weak
snow layers and cause a widespread cycle of avalanches large
enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. Some of these
avalanches could release naturally, and it will become very easy
for backcountry travelers to trigger them.
* PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…Travel in or below
avalanche terrain is not recommended during this period.
Consult http://www.idahopanhandleavalanche.org/ or
www.avalanche.org for more detailed information.
Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the
coverage area of this or any avalanche center.