Avalanche forecast

Whitefish Range

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago.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

Highlights

New and wind-driven snow have formed sensitive slabs large enough to bury and injure a rider. A small avalanche could trigger a much larger, more dangerous avalanche on a weak layer buried deep in the snowpack. Reduce your exposure to steep terrain as you climb higher.

The northern Whitefish Range picked up a foot of new snow. Expect more dangerous avalanche conditions the further north you travel. The avalanche danger rating for the southern Whitefish Range is MODERATE.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Northern Whitefish Range: The northern part of the range was favored with about a foot of new snow in the last 24 hours. Expect to manage a widespread storm slab avalanche problem in that region. Avalanches may be big enough to injure a rider in terrain sheltered from the wind.

    Southern Whitefish Range: Storm totals were less in the southern half of the Whitefish Range. Your main new snow hazard will be a Wind Slab Avalanche problem. Vicious southwest winds have drifted the recent snow into hard slabs that may be sensitive to a rider's weight. Expect slabs to grow thicker and more dangerous as you climb into the upper-elevation band.

    Travel Advice: Utilize small and inconsequential test slopes to test the sensitivity of new snow. If you see cracking around your boards or machine, then you’ve found a slab avalanche problem. Dune-shaped drifts or textured surfaces will be visual giveaways to where a thicker wind slab exits. Stick to terrain sheltered from the wind and be wary of all steep slopes in the northern Whitefish Range. 

    A photo of a skier triggered storm slab from early January. This will be about the size avalanche you'll be dealing with in terrain sheltered from the wind today. Slabs will be thicker and more dangerous in wind loaded terrain. 

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Weak layers buried deep in the snowpack are untrustworthy. Yesterday's precipitation typically wouldn’t set off any alarm bells with other buried weak layers, but this one seems to produce massive avalanches with every kind of weather event.

    The most likely cause of an avalanche failing deep in the snowpack is a triggered avalanche in the new snow or a falling cornice. A rider hitting a thin part on the slope would be another likely candidate. On aspects that face northwest to east to southeast, your safest bet is choosing lower-angle slopes . Weak layers are less common on west and south aspects.

    (3/22/2026)

    Crown from a second slab avalanche that was likely triggered by debris from a very large (D3) avalanche on the north face of Sixmile Mountain in the Swan Range. 

    Photo: Flathead Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

If you go powder chasing at upper elevations today, be ready to get pounded by some wind. I’d be hunting for terrain sheltered from southerly and westerly winds. Your best bet for good, safe riding will be on lower-angled slopes well off prominent ridgelines. Looking for sheltered, treed terrain above about 6000 feet should give you the goods. 

While hunting for good riding, be sure to keep new snow and old snow avalanche problems at the front of your mind. Assess storm snow totals as you move from basin to basin or climb in elevation. Adjust your terrain selection based on wind loading and new snow totals. Be very wary of steep, upper-elevation start zones that are being loaded with wind-drifted snow. There is a high degree of uncertainty about what would trigger an avalanche failing deep in the snowpack. Recent avalanches on this weak layer are propagating up to 2000 feet wide and failing up to 8 feet deep. A small avalanche, or possibly wind loading alone, may set off more.

Regions covered