AVWMSO
The following message is transmitted at the request of Idaho Panhandle
Avalanche Center Sandpoint ID.
…AVALANCHE WARNING ISSUED BY THE IDAHO PANHANDLE AVALANCHE CENTER…
06:00 PDT Mon Mar 24 2025
The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center in Sandpoint has issued a BACKCOUNTRY
AVALANCHE WARNING for the following areas:
NWS Missoula MT –
MTZ001 (MTZ001)
NWS Spokane WA –
ID 017 (Bonner County)…ID 021 (Boundary County)
* WHAT…An Avalanche Warning is in effect from Monday 6 AM to Tuesday 6 AM.
Very dangerous avalanche conditions have developed from several feet of
recent snowfall followed by moderate to heavy rain saturating the snowpack
and will last through Tuesday morning. You can very easily trigger
avalanches large enough to bury, injure, or kill you, and some will release
spontaneously. Avoid travel in avalanche terrain during this period.
* WHERE…The Selkirk Mountains, and West and East Cabinet Mountains above
4,000 feet.
* WHEN…In effect from Mon 06:00 PDT to Tue 06:00 PDT.
* IMPACTS…Heavy snowfall formed dangerous slabs of snow three to four feet
deep. Now, an extended period of moderate to heavy rainfall is saturating
the dry snowpack and will quickly overload numerous weak snow interfaces
below. The snow line will continue to rise to around 7,000 feet and stay at
that elevation through midweek. It will be very likely for backcountry
travelers to trigger large to very large avalanches and natural avalanches
are likely. Avalanches can break wide across terrain features and run long
distances to lower elevations and into mature forests.
* PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…Travel in 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.
