Active Weather Alerts
Avalanche Watch
Issued: 8:52 PM Feb. 23, 2026 – National Weather Service
The following message is transmitted at the request of the Payette National Forest Avalanche Center. ...The Payette National Forest Avalanche Center in McCall Idaho has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH... * WHAT...An Avalanche Watch is in effect. Expect very dangerous avalanche conditions to develop over the next 24-48 hours. Heavy snowfall, wind, and rainfall will overload the current snowpack setup. * WHERE...The Salmon River Mountains, the West Mountains, and the surrounding mountain areas. * WHEN...In effect from Mon 12:00 MST to Tue 12:00 MST. * IMPACTS...Natural and human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury people are very likely to occur within 24-48 hours of this issuance. Avalanches may connect across terrain features like ridges or release multiple start zones at once. Additionally, rainfall to 7,000 feet will weaken surface snow and increase the likelihood of larger loose avalanches, as well as avalanches that break deeper within the snowpack. Smaller slopes, such as roadcuts, may also avalanche, depositing a surprising amount of debris on the road below. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Anticipate conditions that dictate staying off and out from below steep slopes - slopes steeper than about 30 degrees. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended per this upcoming timeframe. Natural and human-triggered avalanches may occur in unexpected or surprising ways, travel farther than anticipated, and impact gentler terrain below. Even small but steep terrain features, such as road cuts or rooftops holding old snow, may be hazardous. Consult WWW.PAYETTEAVALANCHE.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.
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