Today you can trigger fresh slabs of drifted snow that break a foot or so deep at upper elevations. At all elevations, the most serious hazard is triggering avalanches that break on old snow buried two or more feet below the snow surface. Your chances of triggering one of these beasts increase as slope angles increase. You can leave a wider buffer against surprises by sticking to slopes less than about 35 degrees.

Today you can trigger fresh slabs of drifted snow that break a foot or so deep at upper elevations. At all elevations, the most serious hazard is triggering avalanches that break on old snow buried two or more feet below the snow surface. Your chances of triggering one of these beasts increase as slope angles increase. You can leave a wider buffer against surprises by sticking to slopes less than about 35 degrees.

The stormy weather has ended, and our snowpack is adjusting to the last loading event. Recently-formed slabs may still be reactive to the weight of a rider and will be thickest below ridgelines and more widespread in the northern Whitefish Range and the Swan Range. Don't let today's bluebird conditions lull you into complacency as natural and triggered avalanches have been reported daily this past week. Look for cohesive surface snow while utilizing terrain management to minimize your hazard.

Today's northeast winds will drift low-density surface snow onto atypical aspects thickening slabs below ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. Recent storm snow may still produce avalanches. Natural and triggered avalanches in the surface snow and on buried weak layers occurred in our region yesterday. Watch for blowing snow and shooting cracks. Cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills will complicate a rescue. 

Today's northeast winds will drift low-density surface snow onto atypical aspects thickening slabs below ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. Recent storm snow may still produce avalanches. Natural and triggered avalanches in the surface snow and on buried weak layers occurred in our region yesterday. Watch for blowing snow and shooting cracks. Cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills will complicate a rescue. 

Light snow and wind continues to add weight to the snowpack. Storm slabs and loose snow avalanches are possible in steep terrain. Watch for loose sluffs and denser slabs up to 6” or more thick in steep terrain. Tricky weak layers buried 2-5 feet deep are still possible to trigger. Whumpfing and shooting cracks are red flags directing you to lower angled slopes.

New storm slabs are developing on top of recent low density snow, surface hoar, and crusts. The fresh slabs are also adding yet more weight to deeply buried weak layers. Dangerous avalanche conditions will require conservative decision making today. Monitor new snow totals and look for areas where the wind has made slabs denser. Shooting cracks and collapses are red flags telling you to avoid avalanche terrain.

New storm slabs are developing on top of recent low density snow, surface hoar, and crusts. The fresh slabs are also adding yet more weight to deeply buried weak layers. Dangerous avalanche conditions will require conservative decision making today. Monitor new snow totals and look for areas where the wind has made slabs denser. Shooting cracks and collapses are red flags telling you to avoid avalanche terrain.

The math remains simple today. And don’t tune out at the word “math,” arts and humanities majors. Lots of snow in a short time equals dangerous avalanche conditions. Today you can still trigger slides that break 1 to 3 feet deep on steep slopes. But you can enjoy great riding with less risk on slopes that are less than 35 degrees, have runouts clear of terrain traps, and aren’t below steeper start zones.

The math remains simple today. And don’t tune out at the word “math,” arts and humanities majors. Lots of snow in a short time equals dangerous avalanche conditions. Today you can still trigger slides that break 1 to 3 feet deep on steep slopes. But you can enjoy great riding with less risk on slopes that are less than 35 degrees, have runouts clear of terrain traps, and aren’t below steeper start zones.

An AVALANCHE WARNING remains in effect.  Today's equation is simple: A lot of new snow + wind = natural avalanches.  Observers yesterday reported widespread avalanche activity in the new snow and some slides breaking into older layers.  Heavy snowfall today will bring storm totals to 1 or 2 feet.  Today is a great day to ride powder inbounds or on low angle terrain.  Avoid traveling on or below steep terrain, including valley runouts.  

The avalanche danger is expected to rise from CONSIDERABLE today to HIGH overnight. An AVALANCHE WARNING is in effect from 5 pm today until midnight Wednesday. 1 to 2' of snow and wind will form thickening slabs on weak surface snow and buried weak layers. Surface slides have the ability to travel long distances and trigger a deeper more destructive avalanche. Monitor snow totals and look for signs of instability such as blowing snow, shooting cracks, collapsing and natural avalanches. 

The avalanche danger is expected to rise from CONSIDERABLE today to HIGH overnight. An AVALANCHE WARNING is in effect from 5 pm today until midnight Wednesday. 1 to 2' of snow and wind will form thickening slabs on weak surface snow and buried weak layers. Surface slides have the ability to travel long distances and trigger a deeper more destructive avalanche. Monitor snow totals and look for signs of instability such as blowing snow, shooting cracks, collapsing and natural avalanches. 

Moderating temperatures, minimal new snow, and decreasing winds are allowing our snowpack to slowly gain strength. Observations over the weekend included shooting cracks, collapses, and avalanches breaking in surface wind slabs and into buried weak layers 1 to 4 feet deep.  Higher quality snow and safer conditions are found in areas sheltered from the wind.