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 Friday 6 AM PST to
Saturday 6 AM PST. Very dangerous avalanche conditions are
likely to develop by Saturday morning and raise the danger to
High (Level 4of5).
* WHERE…The Selkirk, West and East Cabinet, and Bitterroot
Mountains – Silver Valley above 4,000 feet.
* WHEN…In effect from Fri 06:00 PDT to Sat 06:00 PDT.
* IMPACTS…A warm, wet storm will quickly deliver several feet
of dense, new snow and strong winds. The new snow load may be
sufficient to overload a variety of weak snow layers in the
upper snowpack 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.