Avalanche forecast

Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Enjoy generally safe avalanche conditions today. A trace to 2 inches of snow will create dust on crust conditions. There is a lingering concern about triggering a slab avalanche failing 6 to 18 inches thick on shaded slopes where a surface crust does not exist. You can hedge your bets by choosing planar slopes with runouts free of surface obstacles and abrupt transitions.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The most recently reported avalanche failing on buried weak layers was between February 7th-9th during periods of heavy wind loading. Snowpit tests from north-facing aspects this weekend show this layer can still propagate if triggered. If you head out today searching for colder snow on northerly aspects, choose slopes that are concave or planar in shape. Choose terrain with clean runouts to reduce the likelihood of a triggered avalanche having large consequences. If in doubt, choose slopes with angles less than 35 degrees or change to solar aspects and ride where a surface crust has the snowpack locked in place.

    (2/8/2022)

    Very large (D3) avalanche that likely failed on buried persistent weak layers on 2/6 or 2/7. 

    Photo: Alan Davis

Avalanche Discussion

Today's new snow accumulations will be just enough to cover frozen rollerballs and create dust on crust conditions. Light snow showers will bring a trace to two inches of snow to the forecast region. Pre-frontal winds will blow at speeds capable of transporting snow but with little to no snow to blow around. Wind speeds do appear to die down this evening after frontal passage.

We received no reports of triggered avalanches over the weekend. Observations from west, south, and east-facing aspects show no signs of unstable snow (observation). Snowpit tests on northerly aspects at mid and upper elevations in the southern Whitefish Range and the Flathead Range show that weak layers still have the propensity to propagate (observation, observation). Mild weather allows these layers to gain strength, but we are not out of the woods yet.

To no surprise, the recent spring-like weather has allowed cornices to begin to uproot themselves and for glide cracks to show their brown frowns (see photos below). Although more likely to fail during periods of warm temperatures and no overnight refreeze, both of these hazards can fail spontaneously and with no warning. If your travel route requires you to move beneath corniced faces and glide cracks, do so quickly and one at a time.

Regions covered