Full Notification

AVAOTX The following message is transmitted at the request of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center. The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center in Sandpoint has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH for the following areas: NWS Spokane WA - ID 017 (Bonner County)...ID 021 (Boundary County)...ID 079 (Shoshone County)

* WHAT...An Avalanche Watch is in effect from Saturday 6 AM PST to Sunday 6 AM PST. Very dangerous avalanche conditions are likely to develop by Sunday morning and raise the danger to High (Level 4of5).

* WHERE...The Selkirk, West and East Cabinet, Purcell, and Bitterroot Mountains - Silver Valley above 4,000 feet.

* WHEN...In effect from Sat 06:00 PST to Sun 06:00 PST.

* IMPACTS...A warm, wet storm will deliver a combination of dense storm snow and moderate to heavy rainfall to the snowpack. The snow line will likely rise to between 6,000 and 7,000 feet by Sunday evening. The combination of strong winds and rain saturating the upper snowpack may be sufficient to overload weak snow layers and cause a widespread cycle of avalanches large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. Some of these avalanches could release naturally, and it will become very easy for backcountry travelers to trigger them.

* PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Travel in or below 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.

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