Full Notification

AVAOTX The following message is transmitted at the request of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center. 06:00 PST Mon Dec 08 2025 The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center in Sandpoint has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH for the following areas: NWS Missoula MT - MTZ001 (MTZ001) NWS Spokane WA - ID 017 (Bonner County)...ID 021 (Boundary County)...ID 079 (Shoshone County)

* WHAT...An Avalanche Watch is in effect from Monday 6 AM PST to Monday 4 PM PST. Very dangerous avalanche conditions could develop overnight Monday and raise the danger to High (Level 4of5).

* WHERE...The Selkirk, West and East Cabinet Mountains, and Bitterroot Mountains - Silver Valley.

* WHEN...In effect from Mon 06:00 PST to Mon 16:00 PST.

* IMPACTS...Heavy, wet snowfall Monday will transition to heavy rain overnight. A potent atmospheric river characterized by near-historic moisture will introduce a firehose of moisture into North Idaho and Northwestern Montana. The rain line will rise to around 7,000 feet overnight Monday and will saturate recent snowfall and buried weak layers, and could provoke a widespread cycle of avalanches large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. Some of these avalanches could release naturally, and it will be 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