Avalanche forecast

Swan Range

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Wet snow may slide easily due to rain, warm temperatures and sunshine. Move to low angle terrain or make an early exit if you or your machine begin sinking into a mushy surface.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    We are on a two-night run of poor refreezes. Current middle elevation temperatures are near freezing, with upper elevations slightly cooler. Any crusts that formed overnight will be thin and break down quickly today. Areas that received rain this morning will be particularly sloppy. Elsewhere, new snowfall will transition to moist with increasing temperatures and potential sunshine. 

    Observations from yesterday (Friday) featured rollerballs and pinwheels on all aspects and elevations but not much in the way of Wet Loose avalanches. The snow surface on northerly slopes has recently transitioned to moist and may be more active today. Choose lower-angle slopes where you or your machine sink more than a few inches into the surface and limit time spent in long-running gullies or above terrain traps where the snow can pile up deep.

    (4/7/2023)

    Biggest pinwheel of the day. Northerly aspects had seen some natural rollerball activity on steep slopes.

Avalanche Discussion

It’s been a while since I’ve woken up to rain. It seems like spring is finally winning out during our last weekend of advisories. Yesterday (Friday), I targeted northerly slopes in the Swan Range to see if any dry snow surfaces were holding out. Alas, I found roller balls, pinwheels, and some impressive glopping instead. Following a second consecutive night with poor refreeze, I anticipate this transition to continue today.

Some areas were lucky enough to pick up several inches of snow overnight. Stahl Peak in the northern Whitefish Range received a surprise 3” of snow and 0.5” SWE. Favored locations have the potential to see a couple more inches of accumulation this morning. New snow combined with moderate southwest winds will start drifting snow into small slabs along ridgelines, saddles, mid-slope gullies and ribs. These should generally be small in size and harmless to a rider unless they knock you off your feet and over a cliff. Consider steering around scalloped surfaces or dune-shaped features if you find more than a few inches of recent snow. New snow that transitions to wet for the first time can destabilize rapidly with warm temperatures and spring sunshine and run further on underlying crusts. 

Sustained warm temperatures increase the likelihood of cornice fall and glide crack failure. Continue to give these hazards a wide berth and stay out from under slopes where they’re looming. 

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FAC will issue daily forecasts through Easter Sunday, April 9. Following this, we will give snowpack updates several times a week through April as conditions dictate. 

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