As we move into Thanksgiving week, more snow and wind are being dished up for the Flathead region. Watch for new snow instabilities, specifically in wind drifted areas, and be wary of overhead hazards from deeper instabilities.  

The risk of triggering an avalanche will rise during a winter-like storm Tuesday through Wednesday. The hazard will most likely be confined to higher elevation terrain with enough snow coverage to ski or ride. Track snow totals and watch for wind drifted slabs forming on leeward slopes. The early season snowpack is thin and runs out as you lose elevation. Avalanches can drag you over and into rocks, stumps, or other obstacles increasing the consequences of getting caught.

The risk of triggering an avalanche will rise during a winter-like storm Tuesday through Wednesday. The hazard will most likely be confined to higher elevation terrain with enough snow coverage to ski or ride. Track snow totals and watch for wind drifted slabs forming on leeward slopes. The early season snowpack is thin and runs out as you lose elevation. Avalanches can drag you over and into rocks, stumps, or other obstacles increasing the consequences of getting caught.

Avalanche hazards so far this season are generally localized to high elevation terrain with sufficient snow coverage to ski or ride.   With a thin early season snowpack, avalanches can produce harsh consequences if they drag you over rocks, cliffs, or stumps. Pay attention to snow amounts and watch for rain on snow to increase the threat of wet avalanches through Monday.    

Avalanche hazards so far this season are generally localized to high elevation terrain with sufficient snow coverage to ski or ride.   With a thin early season snowpack, avalanches can produce harsh consequences if they drag you over rocks, cliffs, or stumps.  Pay attention to recent snowfall amounts, wind transport, and underlying weak layers if you are traveling on steep, snow covered terrain.  

Avalanche hazards so far this season are generally localized to high elevation terrain with sufficient snow coverage to ski or ride.   With a thin early season snowpack, avalanches can produce harsh consequences if they drag you over rocks, cliffs, or stumps.  Pay attention to recent snowfall amounts, wind transport, and underlying weak layers if you are traveling on steep, snow covered terrain.  

Avalanche hazards so far this season are generally localized to high elevation terrain with sufficient snow coverage to ski or ride.   With a thin early season snowpack, avalanches can produce harsh consequences if they drag you over rocks, cliffs, or stumps.  Pay attention to recent snowfall amounts, wind transport, and underlying weak layers if you are traveling on steep, snow covered terrain.  

If there's enough snow to ride, there's a enough snow to slide.  Avalanche hazards so far this season are generally localized to high elevation terrain with smooth and continous snow coverage.   With a thin early season snowpack, slabs breaking in new or windblown snow can produce harsh consequences if they drag you over rocks, cliffs, or stumps.  Pay attention to new snow, windloading amounts, and underlying weak layers if you are traveling on steep, snow covered terrain.  

If there's enough snow to ride, there's a enough snow to slide.  Avalanche hazards so far this season are generally localized to high elevation terrain with smooth and continous snow coverage.   With a thin early season snowpack, slabs breaking in new or windblown snow can produce harsh consequences if they drag you over rocks, cliffs, or stumps.  Pay attention to new snow, windloading amounts, and underlying weak layers if you are traveling on steep, snow covered terrain.  

If there's enough snow to ride, there's a enough snow to slide.  Avalanche hazards so far this season are generally small and isolated to high elevation, wind loaded slopes.    Avalanches this time of year can produce harsh consequences if they drag you over rocks, cliffs, or stumps.  Pay attention to new snow and windloading amounts if you are traveling on snow covered terrain.  

If there's enough snow to ride, there's a enough snow to slide.  Avalanche hazards in the fall season are generally small and isolated to high elevation, wind loaded slopes.  A small avalanche can produce harsh consequences if it drags you over rocks, cliffs, or stumps.  Pay attention to new snow and windloading amounts if you are traveling on snow covered terrain.  The FAC will begin regular snowpack updates as conditions warrant later this fall.  

If there's enough snow to ride, there's a enough snow to slide.  Avalanche hazards in the fall season are generally small and isolated to high elevation, wind loaded slopes.  A small avalanche can produce harsh consequences if it drags you over rocks, cliffs, or stumps.  Pay attention to new snow and windloading amounts if you are traveling on snow covered terrain.  The FAC will begin regular snowpack updates as conditions warrant later this fall.  

Avalanche activity typically continues into summer in northwest Montana. Snow stability can deteriorate quickly with subtle changes in snow, rain, wind, sun, and temperatures. Until the snow melts, assess weather, snowpack, and terrain, and practice safe travel techniques that minimize your chances of triggering slides and the consequences of triggered and natural avalanches. Consider conditions on slopes above you while you’re traveling, as many Springtime avalanche concerns involve natural avalanches.

Changing conditions are underway.  Strong winds and snowfall will form increasingly thick slabs through Sunday.  Be especially cautious of leeward terrain features.  Mild temperatures and bouts of sunshine could contribute to ongoing wet loose avalanches.  The best, safest riding will be on wind protected slopes with cold snow that are free of glide cracks, but stay alert on all steep terrain if we get more than about 6 inches of new snow.