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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Highlights

Enjoy a generally stable snowpack and relatively quiet weather before an arctic front enters the area tonight. New snow and wind will increase the avalanche danger by Tuesday morning. As you gain elevation, keep an eye out for fresh thin slabs forming from today's winds. Dense snow cracking beneath you is a clue to choose a more sheltered slope.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Winds shifted back to the southwest overnight and will increase through the day. Friday's 5 - 10 inches of loose dry snow is available for transport, and thin slabs may develop below ridgelines, saddles, and on the sidewalls of cross-loaded gullies. These should be harmless in size but worth keeping an eye out for. Cracking is a clue that you have found a slab. Shooting cracks are a sign of instability directing you to slopes sheltered from the wind for better snow quality and a safer experience.

    (2/23/2022)

    Shooting crack in a hard wind slab

    Photo: Clancy Nelson

Avalanche Discussion

Enjoy today's seasonal temperatures and relatively quiet conditions before the arrival of an arctic front overnight. It can often be challenging to determine the amount of snow expected from these weather events, but we should see at least several inches of snow at all-mountain locations by Tuesday morning. Temperatures will be noticeably colder with breezy northeast winds. The Flathead Valley should feel the impacts of this intrusion through Wednesday. We expect the avalanche danger to rise to MODERATE Tuesday.

There has been a lack of observations from the upper elevations over the past week. This is partly due to the nastiness of the recent Atmospheric River, which started on Monday the 28th and lasted through Thursday. Heavy rain and horrid travel conditions limited all but a few hardy souls from venturing out. On Friday, cooler temperatures and a welcome shot of snowfall improved conditions. FAC staff and public observers report a widespread avalanche cycle in the Flathead Range, with most avalanche paths running multiple times. We're finding debris piles from long-running dry slab avalanches in the valley floors. These occurred early in the storm when the temperatures were cold, and snow was falling at all elevations. On Sunday, Cam and I visited Rescue Creek and noted dry debris running 3500 vertical feet off Nyack Mountain. As the storm warmed and the rain line climbed into the upper elevations, Wet Loose slides released with impressive destructive force. On Saturday, I found humongous wet debris piles in Skiumah Creek. During your travels, please let us know if you find similar evidence. 

There are still a few educational opportunities before season end:

Motorized Introduction to Avalanches 03/17/2022 to 03/19/2022

Community Fireside Chat - Near misses and close calls; what we can learn Tuesday, March 22nd - 6:30 PM (virtual)

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