Avalanche forecast

Whitefish Range

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Today's wintry mix may develop wet avalanches where light rain falls on dry snow. Thin slabs of wind-drifted snow could form in the Whitefish Range this afternoon. The danger will rise overnight and through Sunday, with strong winds and moderate snowfall. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    In locations where today's precipitation falls as rain, wet snow avalanches may develop. These will be confined to the area above the freezing rain but below the snow line. Slopes harboring cold, dry snow will be most susceptible. This will be less of a problem in areas open to the sun where a surface crust developed this week.

    Early signs of instability will be snow falling from tree branches and pinwheels or rollerballs developing. While traveling through the rain zone, limit your exposure to overhead steep slopes and time spent above terrain traps. Default to lower-angle terrain if you find a moist snow surface.

     

    (12/6/2024)

    The popular Skook Face is just northeast of the WMR ski area boundary. The blue ellipse highlights steeper terrain riddled with wet loose debris. The right side of the image shows multiple ski tracks on lower-angle terrain with virtually no wet debris visible. 

    Photo: Mark Dundas

  • Wind Slabs

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

    This afternoon, today's snowfall and windy conditions may combine to form thin slabs of wind-drifted snow in the Whitefish Range. Fresh slabs will form on weak snow such as surface hoar or facets. This will increase their sensitivity to triggering and the distance they propagate.

    Pay attention to new snowfall totals as you gain elevation. Today's moderate winds will point in the direction these slabs are forming. Cracking in the surface indicates instability, directing you to sheltered or lower-angle terrain. 

    (12/1/2024)

    This cornice is along a sub-ridge of the main Apgar Crest and was built by south-to-southwest winds. Slabs of wind-drifted snow form downwind of these features.

    Photo: Mark Dundas

Avalanche Discussion

Light Pacific moisture arrives today after nearly a week of high pressure. Expect a possible messy wintry mix as the relatively warm moisture interacts with cold air pooled near the valley floor. Today's forecast is unclear, but freezing rain may extend from the valley floor to somewhere near the top of the cold air. Perhaps 4000-5000 feet. Above that will be a band of rain extending up to where it is cold enough for snow to develop. 

Today's avalanche concern in the Flathead, GNP, and Swan Range should be confined to the rainfall band, where dry snow will warm for the first time. Wet slides will also be a concern in the Whitefish Range; however, this area is favored for snowfall and may develop thin slabs of wind-drifted snow by sunset. We have added a wind slab problem to this zone and bumped the hazard to MODERATE at upper elevations. There is a slight chance of this problem developing in other zones.

The real action starts tonight as a cold front drops temperatures and the main moisture surge arrives. Nearly an inch of water may fall by Sunday morning, with up to a foot of snow in favored locations and windy conditions. Fresh slabs will form on widespread surface hoar or faceted crusts, increasing the sensitivity to triggering and expanding the distance slides propagate. 

Did you hear about the app? You can now access our region's forecasts, observations, and weather data directly from the Avy App (IOS; Android). Many features are accessible offline, so you can win debates about the avalanche problems right in the backcountry or submit an obs while driving home. 

Registration is open for this season's avalanche courses. Get some learning done!  There's an Avalanche Awareness class on Wednesday, December 11th, at 6:00 pm at the Stonefly Lounge in Coram.

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