Avalanche warning issued for North Idah backcountry

Heavy snowfall and strong winds have prompted the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center to issue a Backcountry Avalanche Watch across its entire region, warning that conditions could trigger deadly snow slides.

The watch, in effect from 6:30 a.m. Friday until 6:30 a.m. today, covers five counties in North Idaho's Panhandle: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone. The affected mountain ranges include the Selkirks, East and West Cabinets, Bitterroots and the Silver Valley area.

"The forecasted snowfall amounts are significant enough to cause avalanches large enough to kill people," officials warned, noting that slides could release either naturally or be triggered by backcountry visitors. The center strongly advises against travel in these areas during the watch period.

Backcountry travelers are specifically cautioned to avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees and to give steep terrain above them a wide berth. However, the center noted that local ski areas are not affected by this warning.

For the latest updates on conditions, visitors can check IdahoPanhandleAvalanche.org.