Avalanche forecast

Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago.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

The avalanche danger will start at LOW today, and may rise to MODERATE due to increasing temperatures and solar radiation. Rollerballs or pinwheels will indicate when to move to shaded slopes. Surface snow sliding on a smooth crust may travel surprisingly far distances. 

If you decide to move into steep terrain today, continue practicing safe travel protocols by exposing only one rider at a time.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    A temperature inversion may drive freezing levels far above mountain tops. This, along with solar radiation, may wet the snow surface on aspects exposed to the sun. If this happens, triggered and natural wet loose will be possible.

    Very steep, rocky areas will be the first to show signs of wetting. Rollerballs and small point releases are your cues to stick to shaded slopes. Although most avalanches should be relatively harmless in size, some may entrain enough snow to bury a person in large avalanche paths. Shaded slopes offer better and safer riding conditions.

    (12/9/2025)

    Steep and rocky start zones (like the one photographed here) hit by the sun will be the first to show signs of warming today. 

    Photo: Mark Dundas

Avalanche Discussion

Two scenarios could play out today, and the avalanche danger rating reflects the worst possible scenario.

  • Scenario 1: Daytime heating and clear skies could produce a round of small to large natural loose wet avalanches. Human-triggered loose wet avalanches will be possible. This will drive the avalanche danger rating to MODERATE.
  • Scenario 2: A slight change in cloud cover or lower-than-forecast temperatures could keep the avalanche danger at LOW for the remainder of the day. 

Forecasting loose wet avalanches this time of year is fickle. Days are short. A slight change in cloud cover, timing of warming, or surface conditions can drive the process one way or the other. The good news is that assessing wet snow problems on the fly is pretty straightforward. Refer to the problem description for tips on assessing this problem.

Observations from yesterday (Tuesday) paint a clear picture of low avalanche danger in regards to dry snow avalanche problem, and indications of a developing wet snow hazard. Some riders reported that despite the low December sun, the snow surface on solar aspects warmed enough to cause some rollerballs and some very small wet loose avalanches. Slabs of wind-drifted snow appear unreactive to the weight of a person. Good riding conditions exist in areas sheltered from the wind. Unfortunately, varying wind directions over the past week may make that challenging to find. 

Travel Advice: Favor slopes shaded from the sun if you see signs of a developing Wet Loose avalanche problem. If you are going out looking to ride in steep terrain, do so one at a time. Keep a spotter in a safe location to increase the chances of recovery in the unlikely event you trigger a slab avalanche. Hard slabs of drifted snow are showing signs that they are unreactive to the weight of a person, but I’d remain wary of riding on them in very consequential terrain.

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