Avalanche forecast

Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Wet snow sliding on a slick surface may develop on sun-baked slopes. Above-freezing afternoon temperatures and sunshine will increase the risk of a wet-snow avalanche throughout the day. Move to shaded slopes if you notice rollerballs, drips from trees, and the ability to make a snowball.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    The 4-12 inches of snow that sits above the most recent buried crust may slide as it is warmed by the sun and today’s higher temperatures. Steep slopes that face directly towards the sun (SW-S-SE) are the most prone. Areas directly below exposed rock or trees will likely be trigger points for naturally initiated avalanches. 

    Minimize your risk by moving to shadier slopes once you start to see signs of instability, such as rollerballs or dripping trees. If the snow you are traveling on suddenly feels denser and stickier, and you can make a snowball, heed the warning of rising instability. Move to a cooler slope and plan the rest of your afternoon to limit time on or below steep sunny aspects.

    If you are on a warming slope, angle your descent across the fall line, rather than vertically down the slope. Limit being caught up with one of these. While generally slow-moving, this type of avalanche can accumulate large amounts of snow as it moves downhill.

    Wind slab: While we have dropped this from the problem list, you may still be able to trigger old, dense pockets of wind-affected snow above 6,500 feet. A party in the Flathead Range yesterday (Wednesday) discovered isolated terrain where this problem may persist.

    (12/31/2025)

    Rollerballs that start in steep terrain, such as this one, can accumulate large amounts of snow and grow into larger avalanches as they move downhill.

    Photo: Guy Zoellner

Avalanche Discussion

Another welcome round of sunshine, easy travel, and quality riding/skiing conditions will be a great way to start 2026. Observations indicate that travelers willing to battle the low-elevation brush and blowdown are rewarded with quality dry snow on shaded slopes and decent coverage above roughly 5500'. 

The avalanche danger has been low enough to warrant exploring larger, more consequential terrain, and the AR event from before Christmas appears to be fading from our memory.

As you travel today, keep a few things in mind.

  • The recent clear, cold nights have developed surface hoar on shaded aspects across the forecast region. Without wind or rain to knock these crystals down, the current snow surface may likely become a future buried weak layer. Note where you find surface hoar standing upright and catalog it for future reference.
  • The southerly facing slopes that are being cooked by the sun will likely retain a crust that future storms will bury.

The dichotomy of traveling today is that the areas with the least hazard (shaded) and best snow quality could become more dangerous, depending on the next storm cycle. Areas to be wary of today (sunny, southerly slopes) will become the safer bet as conditions cool and cloud up. Mentally catalog what you see on the snow surface as you enjoy one more day of sunshine in the mountains.

Regions covered