Bitterroot

Conditions are generally stable throughout the forecast area. Despite low hazard, you may find isolated pockets of instability just below ridgeline and in very steep north-facing terrain. Wet loose avalanches are possible if the sun breaks through the clouds this afternoon. If you are sinking past mid-boot in moist snow, move to lower angle or shaded slopes.

Another two days of warm temperatures and mild winds have helped stabilize the snowpack further. Consequential instabilities are very few and far between. Isolated pockets of windslab have become smaller, south and west aspects have been further sun-affected and crusted, north aspects remain cold and dry with good skiing. 

Yesterday, the sun affected slopes in the southern Bitterroot, enough to cause several D2 wet loose slides. Southeast winds in the northern Bitterroot, Rattlesnake, limited sun warming, and no wet slides were observed. In the Seeley zone, surfaces warmed enough for small wet loose slides on the surface. The snow refroze solidly overnight. 

Very isolated pockets of small wind slab remain just below ridgeline and on very steep north-facing terrain that has been cross-loaded. 

Cornices are large and have been falling. Avoid spending time underneath them and stay well back from the edge when above, as they can break unexpectedly and further back than anticipated. 

Warm temperatures are causing glide cracks to open. Stay off slopes where you see these. They can release full-depth glide avalanches without warning.

The snowpack is shallower in the southern Bitterroots than in the rest of the forecast area. Facets can still be found around the Christmas crust and at the base of the snowpack. It is unlikely to trigger these layers currently, but they may reactivate with prolonged warming, resulting in wet slab avalanches. 

Today mostly cloudy skies should limit sun warming and loose wet avalanches. If the sun does break through the clouds, the surface softens enough to sink past mid-boot in wet snow, or roller balls and pinwheels start, move to lower angled slopes or shaded aspects. 

Triggering an avalanche is unlikely but not impossible. Continue to practice good travel habits, such as skiing one at a time, assessing the snow for instabilities, and staying alert for signs of instability, such as shooting cracks and whumphing. 

Snow begins to fall this afternoon, and west winds will increase strong. The avalanche danger will rise Friday with continued snowfall. Windslab can be expected on easterly slopes, and storm slab is possible if 8” or more new snow falls. 

Your observations are as valuable during times of stability as they are during times of instability. Please continue to submit them here.

Ski and ride safe