Avalanche forecast

Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

5 to 8 inches of new snow fell last night. Point releases and triggered sluffs have the potential to entrain a surprising amount of snow and be large enough to bury a person. Manage your sluff with defensive riding strategies in steep terrain not effected by the wind. Above 6500 feet, east winds drifted new snow into firm slabs large enough to bury and injure a person. Signs of shooting cracks around your skis or machine will be your primary sign to stick to terrain with lower slope angles, or to head to slopes sheltered from the wind.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    North and east winds have and will continue to transport snow into thicker slabs on aspects that face south and west at upper elevations. Look for and avoid pillowy surfaces below ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. Feel for hard-over-soft snow with your hands. Be alert for cracking around your skis or machine. Seek out slopes sheltered from the wind for safer and better riding conditions.

    (1/24/2022)

    Steer around crossloaded features in search of soft, cohesionless snow.

    Photo: Mark Dundas

  • Loose Dry

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

    Many weather stations below 6500 feet are reading 5 to 10 mph wind speeds with no significant increase throughout the day. New snow will sluff easily and run far distances in steep terrain. If your decisions take you into steep terrain, avoid getting knocked off your feet by allowing your sluff to run past you. Select terrain that does not terminate in cliff bands or a thick stand of trees where a small slide can have large consequences. Although loose dry avalanches can be an easy problem to manage, a triggered slide may entrain enough snow to be large enough to bury a person.

    (2/16/2022)

    Loose dry avalanches in steep, rocky terrain. 

    Photo: Cam Johnson

Avalanche Discussion

New snow is landing on weak faceted snow on north and east aspects and a sun crust on south and west aspects. Both of these surfaces provide a weak or smooth surface for new snow to slide on. I anticipate your primary hazard will be managing loose dry avalanches in steep terrain. There is a possibility that new snow may have enough cohesion above a layer of near-surface facets to form soft slabs. Your main clue will be shooting cracks around your boards or machine. Utilize short breakovers and test slopes to tease out how well the new snow is bonding to the old snow interface. You are more likely find trouble in areas where winds have stiffened new snow or drifted it into more cohesive slabs.

The Big Mountain weather station is averaging 16 mph out of the north northeast, and the Mt. Aeneas weather station is averaging 30 mph out of the East. This is drifting snow into slabs up to 2 feet thick on slopes that face south and west. Identify areas of drifting and avoid them. Not only will you find less of an avalanche hazard, but you will also find higher-quality snow. Weather stations below 6500 feet are showing light wind speeds.

Sidenote: Hard chunks of frozen debris litter the landscape from a recent widespread avalanche cycle. These debris chunks likely just got covered up with enough snow to make them difficult to see, and would be painful if hit at a high rate of speed. Check your speed before depressions or anywhere debris is likely to pile up.

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