Avalanche forecast

Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Triggering a slide in wind-drifted snow remains the primary hazard, especially at or near the highest and most exposed locations. Shifting winds have left both soft and hard slabs on various aspects. Variable surface conditions should direct you to seek out slopes sheltered from sun and wind for a higher quality experience.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    You may encounter wind-affected snow on various aspects due to shifting winds over the past few days. Thursday's strong westerly winds transported snow onto typical leeward aspects. North through east winds drifted snow Friday through Saturday morning before the wind shifted back to the southwest yesterday afternoon. Gusty northeast winds are expected to return this afternoon.

    Due to the lack of recent snowfall and various crusts, the wind has not had much snow to work with, resulting in thin slabs, wind crusts, and pockets of hard slabs. Rippled surface snow, tree debris, dunes, and pillow-like features are signs the wind has been at work. Slabs may be found in the usual locations, such as below ridgelines, near summits, cross-loaded gullies, or in unusual locations from the atypical winds.

    Look and feel for denser snow below your boards or machine. If this snow supports your weight, you have found a hard slab that can break above you and propagate wider than anticipated. Cracking in the surface snow indicates you have found a sensitive slab directing you to a lower-angle slope. The best quality snow is in terrain sheltered by recent winds and sun. 

    (1/16/2025)

    Snow is being transported onto a lee aspect from moderate to strong winds. This loading formed wind slabs downwind of this cornice in Snowslide Creek.

    Photo: Ryan Minton

Avalanche Discussion

The season's first Arctic air entered the Flathead on Friday, dropping temperatures to around 0 F in most mountain locations. Winds shifted to the north or east for around 36 hours but have not had the impressive speed and damaging effect on the snow surface that we have become accustomed to with these intrusions. Winds returned to a westerly flow yesterday afternoon, helping to moderate temperatures overnight. 

Observations note variable surfaces and challenging riding in locations affected by Wednesday's melt-freeze (sun) crust and Thursday's strong wind event. Our information is limited, but the north and east winds have produced relatively minimal wind effects. I drove to Marias Pass yesterday expecting to record information about wind transport and was somewhat shocked to find calm conditions with little evidence of recent winds. The south face of Big Mountain generally gets raked by arctic winds, but the WMR patrol reports little effect. Wind damage on the Swan Front is often evident from Columbia Falls and Kalispell, but not with this event.

Despite the lack of recent recorded avalanche activity, it remains possible for a rider to trigger a slide in wind-blown snow. This is more likely at the higher elevations of our area, such as summits and ridge crests where observations have been sparse.  The north and east winds have had more snow to work with than the westerlies, so areas where these winds were elevated may hold fresh slabs in unusual locations. This afternoon, forecasted atypical winds may form fresh slabs by sunset if they arrive sooner than anticipated.

Education and Events:

Interested in learning more? Check out our events calendar! There is a Motorized Intro to Avalanches course on Saturday, January 25th.

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