The snowpack has quickly stabilized due to cold air refreezing yesterday's wet snow surface into a stout crust.  The isolated exception: small drifts of snow that formed above the crust.  Be mindful of terrain traps if you find yourself carving a turn somewhere deeper than dust on crust.  

Dangerous avalanche conditions continue today. Choosing simple terrain with low slope angles is the easiest way to stay out of trouble. Strong winds are creating fresh drifts up high and wet snow can slide at middle and lower elevations. Use extra caution under large avalanche paths with rocky start zones. Natural slab avalanches and sluffs are a red flag. Shooting cracks beneath you means you are already on unstable snow.

We have issued a Special Avalanche Bulletin for the Flathead Range and Glacier Park through 8 PM tonight. Wind slabs, wet snow avalanches, and the possibility of monster deep slabs are creating very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel on, or below steep avalanche terrain is not recommended, especially at upper elevations.  Dangers are most pronounced on steep slopes with saturated wet snow or drifting snow. Avoid traveling in the tracks or runouts of terrain with overhead exposure, even at low elevations.  

Dangerous avalanche conditions will develop as a wet and windy storm rakes our area today. Choose simple terrain with low slope angles. Avoid steep slopes where snow is blowing into fresh drifts and where rain is making the snow wet. Use extra caution under large avalanche paths with rocky start zones. The shock of rising temperatures and new loading may wake up sleeping dragons. Very large avalanches could be the result. Expect more snow and wind further north.

On steep, upper-elevation, leeward slopes, you can trigger freshly-formed slabs of drifted snow. In this same terrain, the danger of very large avalanches that break near the ground lurks. At low elevations and in sunny, mid-elevation terrain, warm temperatures and sun make triggering dense sluffs of wet snow possible. Careful trip planning and group management can help you dodge these hazards and enjoy good riding. 

The best bet for good riding with the least exposure to avalanche hazards today will be shady, wind-sheltered slopes at mid elevations. On steep, upper-elevation, leeward slopes, you can trigger freshly-formed slabs of drifted snow. At low elevations and in sunny, mid-elevation terrain, warm temperatures and sun make triggering dense sluffs of wet snow possible. Careful trip planning and group management can help you dodge these hazards and enjoy good riding. 

Today you can trigger slabs up to two feet thick on steep slopes. These can break on or near recently-buried crusts and ice lenses. Fresh drifts of wind-blown snow may make these slabs more reactive to a person's weight or pose a hazard on their own. Cracks, collapses, and fresh avalanches are reliable signs of this danger. Don't be fooled by small sluffs on the snow surface into thinking there's no slab avalanche danger. 

Snowfall in the past 24 hours will create slabs large enough to bury or injure you in larger terrain, or if caught above a terrain trap. If you see 8 inches of new snow stack up, or winds driving snow onto leeward slopes, seek out terrain with angles less than 35 degrees or terrain sheltered from the wind. Be wary of traveling on or below upper elevation, leeward faces where deep slab avalanches remain a concern.

Expect new snow today to increase the avalanche hazard. Pay attention to accumulations, and if you find more than about 8 inches of new and recent snow, or snow blowing off ridgelines, seek terrain with slope angles less than 35 degrees or terrain sheltered from the wind. Cracking in the new snow is a quick sign to seek out lower angle terrain.

New snow instabilities are increasing the avalanche danger today. Be cautious in areas that have received more than 8 inches of new snow, or near steep terrain where winds have transported snow into thicker, more dangerous slabs. The safest riding today is in wind-sheltered terrain.

Another very large avalanche ran to valley bottom from the Flathead's alpine terrain during Friday's rain event. This continues the pattern of deep slab activity from high elevation, leeward aspects.   Cool and calm weather is now contributing to an improving snowpack, but stay skeptical of that type of terrain.  Choose routes with deep, uniform snowpacks that stay away from rocky terrain with variable snow coverage. Don't dilly dally below steep alpine faces with overhanging cornices.    

Cool and calm weather is contributing to a generally stable snowpack today in the Swan Range.  Take advantage of good stability to seek out steeper terrain objectives today, but remain watchful for isolated exceptions.  Continue to carry rescue gear and travel one at a time in steep terrain.  An increase in winds and more snow may raise the danger tomorrow; take heed if today's weather brings more wind or snow than forecasted.  

The avalanche danger has trended down with today's cooler and quieter weather.  Human triggered avalanches are possible on high elevation, leeward slopes.  Slabs breaking in recently drifted snow pose a more common threat, while the lingering potential for huge avalanches to fail on old layers near the ground are a rare but much scarier threat.  Below yesterday’s rain line, the snowpack is generally stable as long as surfaces remain frozen through the day.

Fresh wind slabs near ridgetops will create dangerous avalanche conditions. Wet snow down low can sluff on steep slopes. Be conservative with your terrain choices with an eye for consequences and overhead hazards. Watch for rollerballs and natural sluffs on steep slopes. As you gain elevation, avoid areas of drifted snow below cornices on leeward slopes. They can crack and slide under your weight. Unpredictable deep slab avalanches pose an overhead hazard under alpine start zones.