THIS AVALANCHE FORECAST EXPIRED ON December 3, 2015 @ 1:16 am
Avalanche Forecast published on December 2, 2015 @ 8:16 am
Issued by Erich Peitzsch - Flathead National Forest

Whitefish Range
Swan Range
Flathead Range and Glacier National Park

How to read the forecast

A bit of precipitation expected today won't change the current snowpack too much. A shallow, early season snowpack still exists throughout much of the advisory area. Limited observations show a weak snowpack structure near the surface consisting of facets (weak snow). It's important to watch how the snowpack develops now before the next storm. Continue to carry proper avalanche safety gear, know how to use it, and follow safe avalanche terrain travel protocols. 

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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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We are currently getting into the field here are the Flathead Avalanche Center. The meager snowpack at lower elevations is making access to upper elevations a bit tricky. However, there is enough snow at upper elevations to ski and ride. This means there is enough snow to avalanche. Any avalanche that occurs is likely to be small at this point, but could take you for a nasty ride over rocks and the ground at this point. Small, isolated wind slabs may still exist in the upper reaches of the alpine. In other areas, a shallow, weak snowpack exists. Surface hoar has formed due to the clear cold nights above the inversion and these cold temperatures have also caused the near surface layers to begin to facet. This is important to track before the next storm deposits a new load on this weak snowpack. 

Contine to wear and carry proper avalanche safety gear and know how to use it. The early season is a great time to practice your transceiver skills. You can practice anywhere, and all of the grasses and bushes sticking up out of the snow makes it easy for your partner to hide his/her transceiver. Speaking of practice, it's also a great time 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. The next avalanche awareness class is this Thursday, December 3 at 6:30 pm at the Rocky Mountain Outfitter in Kalispell. Many of these classes are hosted by local shops and retailers, and we appreciate their support in helping educate backcountry users. 

The first Introduction to Avalanches class will be held December 17 and 19. We are partnering with FVCC to conduct these classes. Register here soon as these clases tend to fill quickly: http://www.flatheadavalanche.org/class/introduction-avalanches-non-motor....

Also, the Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center (FOFAC) this Saturday at the Great Northern Bar and Grill in Whitefish for the annual Snowball. There will be great music, and a raffle for skis and a season pass at Whitefish Mountain Resort. More info on the website homepage.

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. 

We will begin issuing daily advisories with danger ratings once we have more snowfall and enough data from the field.

recent observations

Yesterday, Mark and I traveled to the Snowslip weather station in southern Glaciern NP for some station maintenance. Given the meager low elevation snowpack we walked to 7000 feet with minimal postholing. We found a shallow snowpack consisting of weak surface snow and a rain crust from mid-November on a north aspect (video). On a more southerly aspect we found a similar structure, but with a much shallower snowpack depth (around 12-16 inches at this location). Currently, this structure is not a problem, but could become one as new snow falls on this weak snowpack in the future. 

 

  

 

Weather and CURRENT CONDITIONS
Weather Station Map
Weather Station Table
weather summary

A small disturbance will pass through the advisory area today bringing 1-2 inches of snow above 5000 feet with the potential for freezing rain at lower elevations. Current temperatures this morning are 20-30 ºF above 5900 feet. Winds are currently moving out of the southwest at 8-10 mph with gusts to 20 mph. Today, expect a bit of precipitation with winds moving out of the southwest at 10-20 mph with gusts to 45 mph. This small disturbance will help scour temperature inversions a bit. The next best chance for precipitation appears to be early Friday into Saturday.

Today’s weather observations near 6000 feet in the region
0600 temperature: 20-30 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours: 21-30 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours: South-Southwest
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours: 8-15 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours: 20-28 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours: 0 inches
Total snow depth: 1-29 inches
Two-Day Mountain Weather Forecast Produced in partnership with the Missoula NWS
For 5000 ft. to 7000 ft.
Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
Cloud Cover: This morning will start off with moderate to strong valley inversions in place ahead of a weak system that will move through later today and tonight. This system will bring overcast skies, light snow generally above 3000-4000 ft, and the potential for pockets of freezing rain for far northwest Montana. Lingering showers will continue into Thursday with additional light snow accumulations. Inversions will weaken Thursday and Friday, but expect gusty ridge winds to increase beginning Thursday evening. Lingering showers will continue into Thursday with additional light snow accumulations. Inversions will weaken Thursday and Friday, but expect gusty ridge winds to increase beginning Thursday evening.
Temperatures: 28-34 deg. F. 19-28 deg. F. 32-40 deg. F.
Wind Direction: Southwest Southwest Southwest
Wind Speed: 8-14 mph with gusts to 31 mph. 5-10 mph with gusts to 25 mph. 9-12 mph with gusts to 30 mph.
Snowfall: 0-1 in. 0 in. 0 in.
Snow Line:
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.