Avalanche forecast

Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

An AVALANCHE WARNING is in effect. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Heavy snowfall rates and blowing snow will overload a weak snowpack. Natural and human-triggered avalanches will become very likely. Slides can be triggered remotely from flat terrain above, to the side, and below steep slopes. Seek out terrain with low slope angles and avoid traveling beneath steep slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Yesterday (Monday), we received reports of both human-triggered and natural avalanches failing up to 3 feet deep. One rider was caught and carried in a large avalanche. Other avalanches were triggered from a distance on flat terrain. Avalanches will only become larger and more dangerous as new snow falls today.

    Today, heavy snowfall and wind-driven snow will shock-load this weak and fragile snowpack. Avalanches may fail naturally or be triggered remotely. The only way to manage this problem is to avoid it entirely. Give plenty of distance between you and steep terrain. This includes steep terrain above you. Recent remotely triggered avalanches are clear evidence that you can trigger an avalanche that comes crashing down onto you. Ridgelines and low-angle slopes will provide good and safe riding.

    (2/16/2026)

    This large avalanche occurred on a ENE aspect at 6000 feet. 

    The avalanche was triggered from about 100 yards away. 

    Photo: Cam Johnson

  • Storm Slabs

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

    New snow and wind-drifted snow will form fresh slabs on all aspects. Overnight winds blew out of the east and will turn to a westerly direction this morning. Pay attention to how much snow is falling and where the wind is drifting snow. Slopes that were once safe to ride (south and west-facing aspects) may become problematic as the day progresses.

    Cracking around your boards or machine are signs of unstable snow. Avoid slopes that face north and east since a small avalanche may step down to a very large and deadly avalanche. Progressively dial back your slope angles on south and west aspects as new snow accumulates throughout the day.

    (1/29/2026)

    An image of a new snow avalanche problem. Expect to encounter avalanches, like this one, especially on slopes that face south and west. 

    Photo: Guy Zoellner

Avalanche Discussion

We issued an Avalanche Warning that is in effect until 6 AM tomorrow (Wednesday). New snow and wind-drifted snow will create very dangerous avalanche conditions. Today’s avalanche forecast rests on the shoulders of the precipitation forecast. IF snowfall totals do not verify, then expect the avalanche danger to be one step lower than forecast.

The evidence is crystal clear that the snowpack is untrustworthy on north- and east-facing aspects. Remotely triggered avalanches, whumpfs, and natural avalanches with minimal loading events have been the norm since the weak layer was buried well over two weeks ago. Yesterday, a rider was caught and carried in a large avalanche (observation). Thankfully, he was able to grab a tree and stop himself. He wrote, “I was honestly surprised at the speed and ferocity of this slide.” Let those words sink in. Another noteworthy observation was of a large natural avalanche that failed on a southwest aspect (observation). 

The go-to terrain lately has been slopes with a rock-hard crust beneath a few inches of snow. Those slopes are south- and west-facing. If the weather forecast verifies, those same steep slopes will likely become dangerous. There is uncertainty about what type of avalanches you’ll be dealing with on those aspects. Avalanches may fail as loose dry, or may fail as slabs if enough snow falls. Either type of avalanche will likely travel far and fast as it slides on a smooth crust. Tracking storm totals and signs of cracking will be tools for managing the avalanche problem on those aspects.

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