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!
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!
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Above Treeline
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Near Treeline
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Below Treeline
The current snowpaack isn't showing any glaring signs of instability. There are some instabilities that could become a problem as more snow falls in a couple days. For now, the chances of triggering an avalanche are minimal. Never turn your avalanche brain off. Still use safe travel techniques and practice your routine because more snow is on the horizon!
Even though the snowpack is thin, there are places to get the sled and skis going. I found a lot of rotten (depth hoar) snow at the bottom of the snowpack and a 2 different slabs of snow near the top of the pack. The interfaces between the slabs will be something to keep an eye on but I'm cautiously optimistic. Early season conditions have a tendency to disappear in North Idaho because, new snow has a way of percolating into the the lowerpack to mix up the defined layers. Sometimes just the weight of the new snow is enough to squish the air out of the pack as well.
Get read for the next storm to show up tonight. Over the course of the storm, It looks on track to bring 12''+ to the high country. Expect the unsettled weather to continue into the weekend
| 0600 temperature: | 31 deg. F. |
| Max. temperature in the last 24 hours: | 41 deg. F. |
| Average wind direction during the last 24 hours: | SW |
| Average wind speed during the last 24 hours: | 8-10 mph |
| Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours: | 20 mph |
| New snowfall in the last 24 hours: | 0 inches |
| Total snow depth: | 70 cm inches |
| Today | Tonight | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weather: | Partly Sunny / Fog in AM | Snow | Snow then Rain |
| Temperatures: | 36 deg. F. | 30 deg. F. | 35 deg. F. |
| Wind Direction: | W-SW | SW | SW |
| Wind Speed: | 5-8 | 5-8 | 3-7 |
| Expected snowfall: | 0 in. | 1'' in. | 1" in. |
| Today | Tonight | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weather: | Partly Sunny | Snow | Snow |
| Temperatures: | 28 deg. F. | 23 deg. F. | 28 deg. F. |
| Wind Direction: | W | SW | S |
| Wind Speed: | 8-10 | 14-18 | 20-24 |
| Expected snowfall: | 0 in. | 3-6'' in. | 3-5'' in. |
Avalanche conditions change for better or worse continually. Backcountry travelers should be prepared to assess current conditions for themselves, plan their routes of travel accordingly, and never travel alone. Backcountry travelers can reduce their exposure to avalanche hazards by utilizing timbered trails and ridge routes and by avoiding open and exposed terrain with slope angles of 30 degrees or more. Backcountry travelers should carry the necessary avalanche rescue equipment such as a shovel, avalanche probe or probe ski poles, a rescue beacon and a well-equipped first aid kit.
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