Weather Alert in Idaho

Recent Locations: Chadds Ford, PA Childs, MD Saint Maries, ID

Avalanche Watch issued February 22 at 10:36PM PST by NWS Spokane WA

AREAS AFFECTED: Bonner, ID; Boundary, ID; Shoshone, ID

DESCRIPTION: AVAOTX The following message is transmitted at the request of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center. ...AVALANCHE WATCH ISSUED BY THE IDAHO PANHANDLE AVALANCHE CENTER... 19:00 PST Sun Feb 22 2026 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 Sunday 7 PM PST to Monday 4 PM PST. Very dangerous avalanche conditions are likely to develop by Monday afternoon 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 Sun 19:00 PST to Mon 16:00 PST. * IMPACTS...A warm, wet storm will deliver moderate to heavy snowfall to the snowpack. The new snowfall may add enough weight to the snowpack to overload fragile 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, propagate widely across terrain features like ridges, and run long distances into mature forests, valley floors, or flat terrain. 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.

INSTRUCTION: N/A

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Weather Topic: What are Cirrus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cirrus Clouds

Next Topic: Condensation

Cirrus clouds are high-level clouds that occur above 20,000 feet and are composed mainly of ice crystals. They are thin and wispy in appearance.

What do they indicate?
They are often the first sign of an approaching storm.

Next Topic: Condensation

Weather Topic: What are Contrails?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Contrails

Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds

A contrail is an artificial cloud, created by the passing of an aircraft.

Contrails form because water vapor in the exhaust of aircraft engines is suspended in the air under certain temperatures and humidity conditions. These contrails are called exhaust contrails.

Another type of contrail can form due to a temporary reduction in air pressure moving over the plane's surface, causing condensation. These are called aerodynamic contrails.

When you can see your breath on a cold day, it is also because of condensation. The reason contrails last longer than the condensation from your breath is because the water in contrails freezes into ice particles.

Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds