Avalanche forecast

Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Wet snow avalanches remain the primary hazard today. You can minimize your exposure to these by avoiding riding on or below steep slopes where more than a few inches of wet snow exists. 

This is our last daily avalanche forecast for the 2024-2025 winter. We'll issue twice-weekly conditions summaries on Tuesdays and Fridays starting tomorrow, April 8, and continuing through Friday, May 2.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    With no freeze overnight, wet snow avalanche hazards remain the primary concern today. You can trigger avalanches involving wet snow on steep slopes at mid and upper elevations. The snow on high, northerly slopes may be the most sensitive to a rider's weight today, thanks to greenhousing and light rain. Both loose wet and wet slab avalanches are possible today. The likelihood of natural avalanches is diminishing as temperatures cool and clouds move overhead.

    If you or your machine are sinking more than a few inches into wet snow, avoid riding on slopes steep enough to slide. Staying out from under steep slopes remains a good idea, as is staying out from under open glide cracks. 

    (4/6/2025)

    Three types of natural wet snow avalanches - wet slabs, long-running loose wet snow slides, and glide cracks. 

    Photo: Chris Gotschalk

Avalanche Discussion

Sunday saw yet more natural avalanche activity as temperatures warmed into the 40s at upper elevations under mostly sunny skies. The snow surface was wet by mid-morning at low and mid elevations. Natural loose wet snow avalanches ran on sunny slopes by late afternoon. A few wet slab avalanches also released. The images and description from a northern Flathead Range observation Sunday suggest few slopes are free of debris. Temperatures at mid and upper elevations only dropped a few degrees overnight, though an inversion has allowed temperatures to dip below freezing in the valleys.

So the stove is still hot to the touch this morning, even if the burner is turned off. An approaching cold front will bring clouds, gusty winds, and falling temperatures. All of these factors should contribute to less meltwater production near the surface of the snowpack, and thus, a decrease in the wet snow avalanche hazard. 

The one exception to the trend of decreasing avalanche hazard might be high, shaded and northerly slopes. The surface snow in this terrain may have only started wetting in the past 24 hours, and greenhousing with today's clouds could accelerate that process. I expect the snow in this terrain to be sensitive to triggers like people, with natural avalanches less likely.

As of 6:30, it looks like this front may arrive faster than forecast and produce light rain over much of the region. I don't expect this to significantly affect the avalanche danger. 

The next few days should see cooler, wetter weather before a short-lived ridge builds for Thursday. The big question for avalanche and riding conditions is whether the snow surface will refreeze before being buried and insulated with new snow. 

Today is our last daily avalanche forecast for the 2024-2025 winter. We'll issue twice-weekly conditions summaries on Tuesdays and Fridays starting tomorrow, April 8 and continuing through Friday, May 2. While the FAC team has entered 110 observations, you - the people reading and using these products - have submitted four times as many. Those 440 observations are invaluable; they help us provide more relevant and accurate products. Thank you. And keep 'em coming for the next four weeks, please. 

Rough tallies also show over 1000 reported avalanches, 1900 submitted images, and - most importantly - no accidents that resulted in rescues or serious injuries. Let's keep that streak going the next four weeks as well. 

For years, the avalanche community has worked to understand and address the human factors that influence decision-making in the backcountry. With decades of research as their foundation, Sara Boilen and Ian McCammon are developing an open-source tool to help individuals mitigate risk in avalanche terrain. The project's first stage involves interviewing backcountry recreationalists who have been traveling in avalanche terrain for at least one season. All participants will be entered to win amazing raffle prizes (from Jones Snowboards, BCA, and more!). If you’re curious about being involved, please take 1-2 minutes to fill out our interest survey!

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