Avalanche forecast

Swan Range

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Large avalanches have occurred every day this week. Continued warm temperatures and rain are causing very dangerous conditions. Avalanches may slide in the wet surface snow or break on buried weak layers. Travel near steep slopes is not recommended.

An Avalanche Warning is in effect through Saturday morning.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3

    Destructive avalanches may break several feet deep on weak layers that have been further compromised by recent rain and meltwater. Runnels or rills in the snow surface indicate areas that received heavy rain. Recent avalanche activity on adjacent or similar slopes is your most obvious sign of instability. 

    Wet loose avalanches are still possible on very steep slopes that have not yet slid. Any slides in wet snow have the potential to step down to deeper buried weak layers. The simplest way to avoid all of these problems is to stay FAR from steep slopes until temperatures have cooled off and the snowpack refreezes. 

    (3/19/2026)

    Slab avalanche activity in Upper Essex Creek. ( NE - 6900' ) (D 2.5). This possibly failed on a layer that was weakened by recent rain.

    Photo: Michael Reavis

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3

    Last weekend's snow and wind grew impressive cornices along alpine ridges. Sustained above-freezing temperatures and rain have weakened these overhanging ledges of snow, and failure is likely. Tumbling chunks of snow can cause large avalanches to fail on buried weak layers. Stay well back from the edge if traveling along ridgelines. 

    Large, overhanging cornices command respect when traveling next to or under. Rain and warm weather have put extra stress on an already large and heavy trigger for avalanches on the slope below.

    Photo: Meg Killen

Avalanche Discussion

Observations from this week highlight variability in the advisory area.  Josh and Guy traveled to Link Mountain in the Central Whitefish Range. Their pit at 6000 feet revealed that recent rain and meltwater had only penetrated 2 to 4 inches deep. Meanwhile, Lydia and I visited Tunnel Ridge in the Flathead Range, where we found water had reached 6 feet below the surface at an elevation of 5800 feet. Earlier this week, Blase and Cam found water roughly 2 feet deep in the Swan Range.  Although parts of the region have seen different degrees of warming and rain, the end result is the same: avalanches are occurring in wet snow and on buried weak layers.

Most avalanche activity since last weekend's storm has been size D1-D2.5. BNSF avalanche safety documented the fallout in John F. Stevens, including a natural D2 slab avalanche that failed yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. A few larger (D3-4) avalanches have been reported on Nyack in the Flathead Range, and Sixmile in the Swan Range. 

 

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