Avalanche forecast

Flathead Range & Glacier NP

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Clearing skies and warm temperatures could cause small slides in wet snow. Seek out shaded slopes if you find moist snow or rollerballs. Thin slabs of wind-drifted snow can be found at upper elevations. Move to more sheltered or less steep terrain if the snow cracks around your feet or machine.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Morning cloud cover might be replaced by periods of sunshine this afternoon. If so, warming and wetting in the surface snow may enable riders to trigger small, loose slides on steep, sunny slopes. Slides should remain small due to just a few inches of surface snow available. The exception will be in long-running gullies, large steep continuous terrain, or where the snow breaks through the underlying crust and entrains more snow. Sticky snow or rollerballs are initial clues that the surface is becoming moist, and you should move to a colder, shaded aspect.

    Well-developed rollerballs were noted on mid-elevation slopes. These are a precursor to wet slides.

    Photo: Mark Dundas

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5

    You can find thin slabs of wind-drifted snow beneath upper-elevation ridgelines, saddles, or cross-loaded gullies. Textured surfaces, blowing snow, and dune-shaped features are all signs that the wind has been at work. Cracks around your feet or machine indicate that wind slabs are sensitive to the weight of rider and should usher you to more sheltered or less steep terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

With high pressure firmly in place, there’s not a whole lot of surprises. Here’s two in the back of my mind:

  • Today’s cloud cover burns off faster than anticipated causing the snow surface to become wet and sluff as I travel through mid-elevations.
  • I find evidence of wind-loading as I try to access an upper-elevation objective.

In either case, the resultant slide is likely to be small. They can, however, have out-sized consequences if you or your partner are carried through the abundant exposed rocks and vegetation, over a cliff, or into a terrain trap where even small amounts of snow can bury you. Reduce your risk by choosing planar slopes with clean runouts or by traveling one at a time where you’re most likely to get surprised.

Thanks to everyone who has continued to provide us with observations throughout these early-season doldrums. Even in quiet conditions, this information is extremely useful.  Weather, snow depths, surface conditions, maybe a photo..  It’s all good. Keep it coming!

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