WINTER SPORTS -- Warm temperatures have softened snow to the tops of the region's mountains this week, according to avalanche forecasters who were out in the Selkirk Mountains Thursday.

"It may have tightened up a bit at the higher elevations but it was wet yesterday, to the top," says Kevin Davis in the intro to today's report on avalanche conditions from the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center.

"Temperatures seem to be coming down a bit, from 40 last night, but they may go up before they drop back down.  When its this warm you want to be a little more cautious of steep terrain.  

"Some surface slushies were running yesterday.  More snow on the way by Saturday night, with strong west winds."