Avalanche forecast

Swan Range

Flathead Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Blustery conditions will continue forming thin slabs of wind-drifted snow that could be reactive to a rider's weight. Although unlikely, there remains a chance you could trigger a 2-4 foot thick avalanche on a buried weak layer in the Swan Range. You will most likely affect this layer on shaded slopes harboring a shallow snowpack.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Southwest winds increased on Saturday and will stay elevated into Monday morning. As riders noted yesterday, plenty of dry snow from last week's storms remains available for transport, with more on the way later today. As you gain elevation, you will find thicker and larger slabs downwind of ridgelines and saddles and on the sidewalls of gullies.

    Today's blowing snow and cornice formation point toward slopes with developing slabs. Look for clues that the wind has been at work, such as drifts, dunes, rippled snow surfaces, and snow pillows. Cracks shooting away from your boards or machine indicate you have found an unstable slab directing you to sheltered or lower-angle terrain. 

    (3/9/2024)

    The fracture line of a skier-triggered avalanche in the southern Whitefish Range was reported on March 4th. Slabs of wind-drifted snow were built Saturday and will continue thickening today. These may be reactive to a rider's weight. 

    Photo: Sarah Williams

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    In isolated locations, a layer of weak snow exists 2-4 feet below the surface. Although unlikely, a rider could trigger a large, destructive avalanche on this weak snow at upper elevations. This weak layer is best preserved on shady slopes; however, some sunny aspects contain a mix of crusts and faceted layers capable of producing a destructive slide. 

    You're most likely to trigger one of these beasts in steep, rocky terrain similar to the photo to the right/below. Signs of instability, such as cracking or collapsing, may not be present before the slope you are on slides. Choosing lower-angle terrain without convexities is the easiest way to manage this problem. 

    (3/9/2024) This is a hard slab avalanche on a northeast aspect at ~7,000 feet on a sub-ridge of Great Northern Mountain. It remains possible for riders to trigger a slide similar to this today. Photo: Ernesta McIntosh

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday (Saturday), temperatures reached 40F+ at many mid-elevation weather stations and 50F+ at low-elevations. Despite the mild conditions, high clouds and breezy conditions mostly kept the wet loose problem in check. One party did report triggering a small wet slide near the bottom of the Skook Chutes, while another noted rollerballs (photo). With cooler temperatures on tap for today, we have removed this problem from the list. However, you could probably trigger a small wet loose at low elevations where the temperature has remained above freezing since late morning yesterday. 

Winds increased yesterday afternoon, and last week's snow began transporting (photo). Winds cranked up overnight with a gust of 92 at Tunnel Ridge and into the 50s in several other locations. An approaching cold front will elevate the wind speeds and bring snow to help fuel the wind slab problem.

Sarah and Rob visited the site of two skier-triggered slides in the Chicken Bones area east of WMR from March 4 and 6. These occurred in an area cross-loaded by last week's strong winds and appeared to fail on a faceted weak layer below a melt-freeze crust 21 cm from the surface. 

In the Whitefish Range, several slides failed on buried weak layers last week (photo) and are clustered in a small area on the southeast side of this zone at mid-elevations. The crowns seem thinner than slides in the Flathead Range, so Jeff and Sarah will investigate one of these today and try to solve this puzzle.

The Flathead Range, interior Glacier Park, and southern Glacier Park are the epicenters of large-to-very-large avalanche activity. Good visibility allowed for more observations of crowns in this area yesterday (photo, photo).

A huge thank you to the 10 parties that submitted observations yesterday (Saturday). Riders found dry snow on shaded aspects and decent riding conditions on sunny aspects at mid and upper elevations, with generally stable snowpack tests noted by The Patrol Fund Level 1 class (observation, observation).

Regions covered