Avalanche forecast

Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Flathead Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Enjoy sunshine and generally safe avalanche conditions. Manage small sluffs in steep terrain sheltered from the wind and steer around small pockets of wind-drifted snow in exposed terrain. Avoid traveling beneath glide cracks today. 

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

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

    Despite the plethora of glide cracks visible in all three zones, we have refrained from listing Glide Avalanches until the weather conditions looked favorable for multiple releases. We have that weather today and tomorrow.  Freezing levels will climb to roughly 6000 feet with direct solar radiation. That heat and energy can accelerate creep and glide and the likelihood of slabs failing. Yesterday's sun may have produced partial failures of two glide cracks, though details are fuzzy due to the distance from which we observed them. 

    Although glide avalanches are notoriously challenging to predict, they are remarkably easy to manage. Safely navigate this problem by avoiding traveling below glide cracks. Getting caught in a glide avalanche will be catastrophic. 

Avalanche Discussion

Triggering an avalanche today is unlikely. However, with the exception of Glide Avalanches (described above), there is a smorgasbord of relatively benign problems you may encounter. 

You may find small slabs of wind-drifted snow (human-triggered wind slab) at upper elevations, specifically along the crest of the Flathead Range. Unless one knocks you off your feet in extreme terrain, these should be harmless in size. The other problem is small, dry loose avalanches (human-triggered dry loose). These will be more common on slopes sheltered from the wind and sun. In these locations, the upper snowpack has faceted and become cohesionless snow. Ski or ride in a way that allows your sluff to run next to you, not over you.

Freezing levels are forecasted to climb to roughly 6000 feet with clear skies.  Rollerballs or small point releases may occur on very steep south-facing slopes. If you see signs of wet snow activity, move out from under steep slopes receiving direct sun. The lack of cohesionless snow on south and west aspects should reduce the amount of wet loose activity. 

Changing Conditions Ahead:

A significant weather pattern change is set to impact northwest Montana late Thursday or Friday. If the weather forecast verifies, expect rapidly increasing avalanche danger. Below are two videos. One is a recorded weather briefing from the National Weather Service, and the other describes the current surface conditions and what new snow will land on. Stay tuned. 

Upcoming Events:

Interested in learning more? Check out our events calendar! There is a Ladies Intro to Avalanches course on Saturday, February 1st.

Regions covered