Avalanche Watch

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 Missoula MT - MTZ001 (MTZ001) NWS Spokane WA - ID017 (Bonner County)...ID021 (Boundary County) * WHAT...The avalanche danger may rise to HIGH (Level 4 of 5) on Friday and into Saturday following multiple days of elevated freezing levels and heavy rain saturating the snowpack. * WHERE...The Selkirk Mountains, The West Cabinet Mountains, and the East Cabinet Mountains above 4,000 feet. * WHEN...In effect from Thu 16:00 PDT to Fri 07:00 PDT. * IMPACTS...Heavy rain over the next 24 to 36 hours will continue to wet an already saturated snowpack with multiple shallowly buried weak snow layers. Very dangerous avalanche conditions may develop in places that receive around 2 inches or more of rain. Widespread areas of wet unstable snow may develop across all aspects above 4,000 feet. As rain and meltwater percolate deeper into the snowpack, the potential could increase for avalanches to fail in layers more than 3 feet deep, resulting in very large and destructive avalanches. * PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...If the forecasted significant rainfall amounts are received, very dangerous avalanche conditions could quickly develop. Human-triggered avalanches may become very likely and large natural avalanches will be likely. Avalanches have the potential to entrain impressive amounts of debris and run long distances into mature forest, valley floors, or flat terrain. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. 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.