Full Notification

The following message is transmitted at the request of the Washington EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Spokane Washington. IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center in Sandpoint has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH for the following areas: NWS Missoula MT - MT 053 (Lincoln County)...MT 061 (Mineral County)...MTC 089 (Sanders County) NWS Spokane WA - ID 017 (Bonner County)...ID 021 (Boundary County)...ID 055 (Kootenai County)...ID 079 (Shoshone County)

* WHAT...The avalanche danger for the warning area will likely rise to High on Friday and Saturday.

* WHERE...St. Regis/Silver Valley area, Selkirk Mountains, Purcell Range, East and West Cabinets.

* WHEN...In effect from Thu 16:56 PST to Fri 07:00 PST.

* IMPACTS...Heavy snow and rising temperatures combined with wind will likely create widespread areas of unstable snow on Friday.

* PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...A potent weather system is predicted to impact the area bringing heavy snowfall, strong winds and rising temperatures. These conditions will likely cause a rapid rise in avalanche hazard by Friday morning. Steep slopes and avalanche terrain should be avoided. Avalanche advisory will be posted at 7:00 A.M. on Friday morning 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.

* AFFECTED AREAS: BONNER, ID ... BOUNDARY, ID ... KOOTENAI, ID ... SHOSHONE, ID