THIS AVALANCHE FORECAST EXPIRED ON November 3, 2015 @ 7:58 pm
Avalanche Forecast published on October 30, 2015 @ 4:58 pm
Issued by Erich Peitzsch - Flathead National Forest

Whitefish Range
Swan Range
Flathead Range and Glacier National Park

How to read the forecast

The next few days will see quite a bit of moisture fall throughout the advisory area. Rain/snow line will be at 6000-7000 ft. today (Friday) into Sunday. Temperatures will then decrease and snow levels will drop as a cold air mass moves south out of Canada. If you venture into the mountains searching for turns, hunting, or climbing, remember if there is enough snow to ride, then there is enough to slide.

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Above 6500 ft.

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5000-6500 ft.

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3500-5000 ft.
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This series of storms is likely to form the "base" of our snowpack. Given the time of year and the amount of precipitation, this snow will likely stick around. It's good practice to pay attention to early season weather patterns and think about how that may affect the development of the snowpack on all aspects. As you venture in the mountains this fall remember that avalanches can happen any time of the year. If there is enough snow to ride or ski then there is enough snow to avalanche. Hunters and climbers should also be aware of changing condtions during the early season as you venture higher into the mountains. 

It's also a good idea to start brushing away the cobwebs in the part of your brain that thinks about avalanches, and attend one of the upcoming classes this fall. Check here for a calendar. We will conduct avalanche awareness classses for both motorized and non-motorized audiences. Many of these classes are hosted by local shops and retailers, and we appreciate their support in helping educate backcountry users. We will update the site with snowpack and avalanche conditions throughout the fall as the snow continues to accumulate as well as add more classes and events as they are scheduled. 

While you are dreaming about powder-filled slopes you might also check out the online tutorials under the Education tab. There are a number of resources from the National Avalanche Center and the American Avalanche Association. There is also a great tutorial from Avalanche Canada as well as their Throttle Decisions video series. 

Also, look for upcoming information on the Snowball (schedule f from the Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center (FOFAC). Learn more about FOFAC and their mission. Finally, within the next few weeks we will have a new weather station user interface. We'll let you know when we bring that on board.

If you are out in the mountains, let us know what you are seeing. How much snow is on the ground? Where was the rain/snow line this past weekend? How were the ice conditions? All of it helps. You can drop us a line at [email protected], call us at 406.387.3821, or submit an observation.

recent observations

None yet this season.

Weather and CURRENT CONDITIONS
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weather summary

Between Friday and Saturday night it appears rain can be expected up to 6000-7000 ft. with snow above that. Winds will be in the 15-25 mph range with gusts into the 60 mph range at upper elevations. Then, on Sunday into Monday temperatures will begin to decrease and snow levels will drop. We could see more accumulation (potentially up to 7 inches above 5000 feet) on Sunday into Monday as a cold air mass moves south out of Canada. By Monday night of next week the upper most elevations in our advisory area (>7500 feet) could see up to 15 inches of snow from these two storm systems. 

Disclaimer

This advisory applies only to backcountry areas outside established ski area boundaries. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. This advisory expires at midnight on the posted day unless otherwise noted. The information in this advisory is provided by the USDA Forest Service who is solely responsible for its content.