Continue to be wary of steep and open terrain at upper elevations, it is possible to trigger a slide in the upper 12" of the snowpack in areas affected by the wind. The deeper weak layers will be very resistant to triggers but they are still there and will result in a destructive slide if you find that weak spot. Moving into the weekend expect the avalanche danger to rise as another storm brings heavy snow to the area.

New precipitation from the weekend has settled, but don't become complacent out there. Most locations have depth hoar as well as a buried surface hoar layer that are still being reactive.  If you feel the snow settling or collapsing as you travel, that's a red flag to stick to the terrain under 30 degrees. We don't have much snow on top of these layers right now, but as the week brings more snow expect the danger to rise.  

New snow and winds overnight fell onto a shallow snowpack that hasn't had time to adjust.  Hiding just underneath this new snow is a buried surface hoar layer that was proving to be reactive yesterday, especially in windblown areas.  As we don't have enough snow to ski and ride yet in the lower elevations, today's forecast is for only above treeline. 

 A low snow snowpack exist in most places throughout the Selkirk/Cabinet zone. Approximately 65-100 cm are on the ground in areas above 4000' ft in elevation. The snow is deepest on protected North faces. Be careful of buried obstacles under the snow. It's still thin out there!

See recent observations for current snowpack summary 2019.  Bottom line is we need more snow!

See recent observations for current snowpack summary 2019.  Bottom line is we need more snow!

Great sliding conditions exist out there right now.  The lack of an overnight freeze may have things slighty slushy, say that six times fast, but above 6,ooo feet the snow is more supportive.  You'll also find 4-6 inches of powder on northerly aspects above 6,000 feet so make your mission to seek the fresh before its gone.

Last forecast of the year!! We have a stable snowpack with a 4-7" of fresh snow at upper elevations. With a nice little shot of late season powder at upper elevations and more light moisture on the way expect to find powder riding above 6,000' and the potential for small, loose-wet slides below this elevation.  This weekend may be a good time to tear up the last bit of pow for the season!

We have entered a nice spring pattern with freezing temperatures at night and warm ups during the day. Expect to find Low avalanche danger in the morning and for it to rise as the mercury rises on the sunny aspects. Watch for loose wet slides as the day heats up and avoid any glide crack or cornice areas. Get in and get out of avalanche terrain early. 

Avalanche danger will continue to be driven by the sun right now. Expect to find firm surfaces and LOW avalanche danger in the mornings followed by the potential for small, loose-wet slides to develop in the afternoon on steep, rocky terrain that is exposed to the sun. Continue to pay attention to objective hazards above you such as Glide Cracks and Cornices that may be getting weak in the sun.

We've started to return to more of a normal spring cycle; freezing temperatures at night then warmer days. The cloud cover and lower temperatures will help reduce the potential for wet, loose slides.  Be aware that the danger rises as the sun comes out.  Plan to hit the slopes early on the warm days and leave when pinwheels start showing up.  

The daytime temperatures have been above freezing for a week or so, which creates melting and ultimately a more avalanche prone snowpack. Fortunately, the cooler nights have been refreezing the surface of the snowpack which has been saving us. The best plan now is to get out early when the surface is still firm and frozen. Stay away from sun soked slopes with signs of melting.

Cloud cover and lower temperatures will reduce the potential hazard of wet slides  on Tuesday. Expect the wet slide potential to rise again on Wednesday on slopes exposed to solar radiation on Wednesday as sunshine returns.

Today is another sunny one, which makes 5 days in a row that we haven't recieved freezing temperatures at our highest SNOTELS.  The avalanche danger is directly related to this warming period.  Expect the danger to rise as the day progresses; if the snow turns sloppy, it's time to beat feet out of avalanche terrain.  While the temperatures are going to cool a bit on Saturday and Sunday, rain at the mid and low elevations will keep the danger increased.  

You will see small avalanches in steep terrain that is being cooked in the sun on Friday. By the weekend incoming weather will provide cloud cover and reduce the danger of loose wet slides in steep and solar affected slopes. Stay safe by moving to lower angle terrain  or shaded aspects when the sun comes out.

Spring conditions are here in full force! We've had many reports of wet avalanche activity across the region.  Expect to see the avalanche danger increase throughout the day. As air temperatures rise so does the avalanche danger. Be particularly careful on solar aspects (E-S-W). I anticipate seeing a increase in avalanche activity over the the next 48-72 hours.  Enjoy the sun but keep it safe!

With cool nights and daytime temps hovering at the freezing level and sunny days, solar aspects will be most affected towards the middle of the day warming the upper snowpack especially on steeper slopes where the sun angle is the greatest.  

The primary weakness right now is 11" below the surface. It will likely cause problems in isolated locations or on slopes that are exposed to the heat of the sun. Asses the stability and consequence of steep slopes individually before diving in headfirst. Now that is is March pay attention to the effects of the sun and move off of steep slopes that are exposed to the sun as the days heat up! 

People get ready, there's a change a comin.  Warmer temperatures, wind, and new snow will fall on a firm snow surface on many aspects and also a patchy layer of surface hoar.  The storm just began about 4AM so conditions have not reached a problem level yet, but expect the hazard to rise to Considerable or High by later today and last into tomorrow.

The Wednesday/Thursday storm came in warm and cooled down, bonding well to the old snow and leaving us with a new, clean, fluffy riding and sliding surface.  Winds are back to our prevailing direction, so heads up for wind slabs in the NW-E aspects.  

With a modest dose of fresh snow and strong south west winds we will continue to list WINDSLAB as the main concern. Expect to find dense slabs of snow near ridgelines and steep rolls. Watch for shooting cracks in the surface of the snowpack and be very wary of steep, unsupported terrain on north and easterly aspects when dropping off of ridglelines this weekend. 

We are currently enjoying good general snowpack stability with windslab problems on specific terrain features. Strong east winds have loaded west aspects just below ridgelines and cross-loaded chutes on north and south aspects. For the best and safest riding conditions look for soft snow in timbered areas where the surface snow hasn't been hammered by the wind!

Your biggest concern today and this weekend will be windslabs that may be touchy in steeper terrain.  They exist on all aspects and many are very firm and solid.  Be wary of breakable windslabs on steep, convex terrain.  The great sliding conditions continue with cold temperatures and light additions of new snow.  Overall, the upper pack (3-4 feet) is gaining density with depth and is structurally solid.  Get out before the next deep freeze arrives. 

General snowpack stability is improving area wide on the Kootenai and the primary avalanche concern will continue to be windslabs this weekend. With southwest flow today followed by another incoming cold front expect to find new wind slabs developing on any aspect at upper elevations. The likely trigger spots will be below ridgelines, steep and cross-loaded chutes or steep convex rolls. 

Strong north winds are going to dominate the weather pattern, for the next couple of days. We'll continue to see cold temperatures and small amounts of snow over the next 48 hours. The snowpack is pretty strong and supportable in most places. The cold temps have kept the surface snow loose and light providing good sliding conditions in protected or sheltered places.  

The snow from last week has continued to strengthen over the past several days without any new loading on top of it.  We still have reactive wind slabs on multiple aspects as we've had varied wind directions this week.   And our buried persistent weak layers are still down there lurking in the pack.  Assess your riding area before committing to steep, complicated terrain.

New snow has had time to bond with minimal new snow this week.  Light accumulations expected the next few days.  Watch for wind loading on Saturday.  Variability is key to remember as persistent slabs still exist in pockets with high consequence.  

The snow from last week has continued to strengthen as it settles but with moderate winds from multiple directions over the weekend, expect to find wind slabs on all aspects below the ridgelines. Also look for cross loading on steep, open terrain that has been exposed to the winds.  

Big week for storm snow riders!  Shifting winds this week have loaded multiple aspects and storm slabs are touchy.  Steep, windloaded areas below ridges and cornices will be the most hazardous areas today and this weekend.  Don't approach cornices from above or below since cornices have built up to the breaking point this week.

Tuesdays storm snow is slowly settling and gaining strength but more is on the way over the next two days.  Your best choice right now is to continue choosing conservative terrrain through the weekend. Watch for wind slab development on all aspects at treeline and above in steep terrain near ridgelines and in gullies.

Heavy snow combined with strong winds will create widespread areas of unstable snow and HIGH AVALANCHE DANGER at all elevations and aspects.  Avalanches may run long distances and into flat areas. Avoid travelling on or below any terrain that is steeper than 30 degrees. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

Significant snow accumulations today with 9-13 inches expected on top of the 7 plus inches reported.  Temperatures and snow densities are low.  Expect hazard to increase with developing storm throughout the day and assess winds, temperature and precipitation "rapid" changes!

CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists on all aspects and elevations. Expect the conditions to worsen throughout the day Tuesday as the latest storm rolls through. Heavy storm snow and sensitive wind slabs will create touchy conditions on all steep terrain through Wednesday. This week is a good time to make conservative terrain choices!

Watch windloaded ridgelines that could exist on multiple aspects today, now under a little more snow load.  We saw some natural windslab avalanches on windloaded ridges yesterday on Gunsight and Monday near Trestle Peak.  It snowed all night!  Temperatures are in the single digits up high so the new snow is light.  More snow with extreme cold expected today.  Avalanche danger will increase this weekend due to strong NE winds.

NOAA is calling the forecast blustery! In avalanche terms this translates to cold snow and windy conditions. Watch out for wind slabs on all aspects as we've had swirling winds this week with the cold front. The light density snow will be easy to trigger loose slides in our steep terrain. And we are still seeing a buried persistent weak layer down there is isolated areas. 

Good morning! It's a chilly one out there! Plan on staying bundled up for a while. This cold front looks like it will stick around through the weekend. The snowpack doesn't like the cold either. I expect we'll see the snowpack develop some weaknessess, as a result of this weather. 

Snowpack was very stable in the Selkirks yesterday and avalanches are unlikely to occur, however we did find the elusive surface hoar a foot deep on an East aspect at 6000 feet. We did not find it on South or North aspects and have not seen it in other areas of the southern Selkirks.

Buried surface hoar persists in the snowpack but has become less reactive. Use caution in steep protected openings and draws below 6,500'.

Expect avalanche hazard to rise to CONSIDERABLE by Saturday if the predicted storm brings more snow and wind into the area. The new snow will fall on a fresh layer of surface hoar below treeline and crust layers above treeline creating reactive conditions this weekend.

Sunny weather and no new precipitation over the weekend has helped the snowpack stabilize, but there are still pockets of instability out there.  Heads up for isolated areas of buried surface hoar, especially in sheltered areas on the NW-N-NE aspects at the mid elevations.  Several human triggered avalanches were reported over the weekend on this buried persistent weak layer.

Buried surface hoar on top of a stout crust is still reactive in sheltered areas near treeline in the mid elevations creating pockets of considerable avalanche danger. When you are travelling up through elevation to get to your destination, be gathering lots of data as you go.  Moderate winds with the new snow have created small wind slabs on the leeward ridges and peaks.  We have a complicated snowpack out there that requires lots of consideration on your part. 

Buried surface hoar under a cohesive slab layer are prevalant at treeline and below across the forest. The avalanche Danger will be CONSIDERABLE at treeline and below in the Purcells and East Cabinets. In the West Cabinets the danger is MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger. Use caution and practice safe travel habits to minimize exposure and likelihood of triggering this weak layer.

Substantial snowfall, strong winds and some very reactive weak layers are creating HIGH AVALANCHE DANGER at treeline and below. Avoid travelling on or below all terrain that is steeper than 30°. 

Soft storm slabs are resting on slippery crust and buried surface hoar layer in many locations. Storms coming in later today will add more weight to these slabs at all elevations.  Avalanche danger is going to rise Wednesday with the predicted amounts of snowfall and strong winds hitting the region.  Winter Storm Warning tonight! Play it safe and dial it back.  

Mid-week's weather left us with a snowpack with a bed surface of crust and surface hoar.  The new storm is falling on this weak, slippery layer and will cause the avalanche danger to increase through the weekend as more snow accumulates.  Expect to find reactive storm slabs at all elevations. Watch for indication of these in the flat areas with shooting cracks and whumphing.  

The stable snow conditions of the past week will deteriorate as new snow falls on a bed surface of crust and well developed surface hoar. Thin, soft snow slabs will be wide spread and reactive Friday and likely to build through the weekend. Use caution in steep terrain and pay attention to the potential consequences of being caught in small slides as you travel. Avalanche danger has the potential to rise this weekend if predicted snowfall materializes!

A couple days of sunshine and warm temperatures, have helped settle and consolidate the snowpack. A rain crust on the surface doesn't provide the best traveling surface, but there's something to be said for good stability and visibility! Be especially heads after the next significant snow storm. Even though the sun is helping heal the pack right now, it will leave a firm slide surface in it's wake.  

This week was a good one for new snow accumulation.  Temperatures warmed on Wednesday and we saw rain and heavy snow to the mountaintops which created a wet layer on top yesterday.  The wet snow over the lighter snow will create some concerns as you gain elevation today since the wet snow layer will be freezing up high.  Triggering the wet stuff could release a weak layer in the light snow so be cautious around steeper terrain on any aspect.  

Another warm and wet storm has brought high mountain snow above treeline and rain below. Expect to encounter storm slabs above treeline on all aspects and crusty snow conditions below 6,000'. In the Purcell Range continue to keep an eye on the persistent weaknesses at treeline and above. Stability will improve as temperatures drop and the wet snow locks together at lower elevations.