In areas without a stout near-surface crust, you can impact a buried weak layer 1-3' below the surface, resulting in a larger slide. That hazard is relatively widespread at upper-elevations and isolated at mid-elevations. When in doubt, default to planar slopes less than 35 degrees with runouts free of surface obstacles and terrain traps.

Due to an overproducing storm, we are reissuing the Whitefish forecast. You can still trigger a weak layer buried 1-3 feet below the surface in areas not capped by a thick crust. In these areas, choose lower-angled, planar terrain. Anticipate thin slabs forming throughout the day. These will be thicker and more widespread as you gain elevation, especially on leeward slopes. Finish your weekend off in style by steering around slopes harboring dense snow that cracks around you. 

Due to an overproducing storm, we have reissued the Swan forecast. Anticipate thin slabs forming throughout the day. These will be thicker and more widespread as you gain elevation, especially on leeward slopes. You can still trigger a weak layer buried 1-3 feet below the surface in areas not capped by a thick crust. In these areas, choose lower-angled, planar terrain. Finish your weekend off in style by steering around slopes harboring dense snow that cracks around you. 

On steep slopes where the snow surface isn't a thick, hard crust, you can still trigger slides that break 1 to 3 feet deep on weak layers buried by this week's storm. Reduce your risk of triggering a slide by sticking to slopes less than 35 degrees that have runouts free of obstacles. The hard, slick rain crust makes for difficult travel and slide-for-life conditions on other steep slopes.

You can still trigger slides that break 1 to 4 feet deep on steep slopes where a thick, hard crust doesn't exist at the surface. That hazard is relatively widespread at upper elevations, and isolated at mid elevations. You can reduce your risk of triggering a slide by sticking to slopes less than 35 degrees that have runouts free of trees, rocks, and gullies. The hard, slick rain crust makes for difficult travel and slide-for-life conditions on other steep slopes.

You can still trigger slides that break 1 to 4 feet deep on steep slopes where a thick, hard crust doesn't exist at the surface. That hazard is relatively widespread at upper elevations, and isolated at mid elevations. You can reduce your risk of triggering a slide by sticking to slopes less than 35 degrees that have runouts free of trees, rocks, and gullies. The hard, slick rain crust makes for difficult travel and slide-for-life conditions on other steep slopes.

Large and dangerous slabs are likely still unstable below the highest peaks and ridgelines today. Use terrain to limit your exposure to the overhead hazards from freshly-loaded starting zones and large avalanche paths. Below the most recent rain/snow line, a thick crust has locked up the snowpack and created slide-for-life conditions.

An Avalanche Warning is in effect until midnight tonight. Very dangerous avalanche conditions have developed overnight and large natural avalanches are expected today. You may be able to trigger very large avalanches from a distance. Loading from intense snowfall will last throughout the morning and strong winds will continue to build drifts through tonight. Avoid traveling on and under slopes steeper than about 30 degrees. Very large avalanches can come from above and run into the lower elevations.

An Avalanche Warning is in effect until midnight tonight. Very dangerous avalanche conditions have developed overnight and large natural avalanches are expected today. You may be able to trigger very large avalanches from a distance. Loading from intense snowfall will last throughout the morning and strong winds will continue to build drifts through tonight. Avoid traveling on and under slopes steeper than about 30 degrees. Very large avalanches can come from above and run into the lower elevations.

An Avalanche Watch has been issued. Expect increasing danger during the next 48 hours. Rain on snow, and new snow falling on a variety of weak surfaces can cause avalanches large enough to bury and injure you. There is an increased likelihood of triggering a larger, persistent slab avalanche. If you see 8 or more inches of new snow pile up, or rain on snow, stick to slopes less than roughly 35 degrees and stay out from underneath larger paths.

Slabs failing on persistent weak layers buried 1-4’ deep remains our primary concern. You are more likely to get into trouble where a reactive layer of buried surface hoar exists. This layer is spotty in the Whitefish Range and requires digging to assess if it is on the slopes you plan to ride. If you choose to venture into steep terrain, choose well supported, planner, or concave slopes. Avoid steep rollovers and rocky, complex start zones. 

Slabs failing on persistent weak layers buried 1-4’ deep remains our primary concern. You are more likely to get into trouble where a more reactive layer of buried surface hoar exists. Choose well supported, planner, or concave slopes and avoid steep rollovers and rocky, thin alpine start zones. Avoid dawdling beneath cornices as recent failures have pulled out wind slab avalanches below.

You can get into trouble if you impact a weak layer buried 1-4’ beneath the surface, especially in the Flathead Range, where observers report a reactive surface hoar layer. Wind slabs formed earlier in the week continue to strengthen, but deserve your attention. Choose terrain to minimize your risk from the high consequence of a Persistent Slab. Planar slopes with a deep uniform snowpack are a wiser choice than rollovers and thin snow cover areas.

Several generations of wind slabs found on wind-loaded slopes are healing slowly, but you should still approach them with caution. Cracking is a sign that you have found an unstable slab. Triggering a slide on a weak layer buried 1-4’ deep remains a concern. After reports of reactive buried surface hoar Friday, we've increased the likelihood that you could trigger a large dangerous avalanche. If you are not interested in digging, choosing planar well-supported terrain is your safest choice.