Sandpoint, ID — A powerful backcountry storm is expected to create highly dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountainous regions of northern Idaho and western Montana through early Saturday.
According to the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center in Sandpoint, an Avalanche Watch remains in effect from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday for the Selkirk, West and East Cabinet, and Bitterroot mountain ranges—including Silver Valley elevations above 4,000 feet. The alert covers Bonner, Boundary, and Shoshone counties in Idaho, as well as portions of northwest Montana under NWS Missoula’s jurisdiction.
Forecasters warn that a warm and wet system will rapidly dump several feet of heavy snow paired with strong winds. This load is expected to stress fragile layers in the upper snowpack, potentially triggering widespread avalanches, including natural slides and those easily set off by backcountry travelers.
The avalanche danger is anticipated to escalate to “High” (Level 4 of 5) by Saturday morning. Outdoor recreationists are strongly urged to avoid avalanche terrain—including slopes steeper than 30 degrees and areas beneath them.
For updated conditions and safety tips, visit idahopanhandleavalanche.org or avalanche.org. Similar hazards may exist outside the posted watch area.
