The likelilhood of triggering a large avalanche is decreasing, but the consequences remain serious.  Steep, windloaded and crossloaded terrain is most suspect.  Continue to evaluate the snow and terrain carefully.

Strong winds overnight are drifting 6"+ of new snow into fresh slabs behind leeward terrain features.  Lurking under a disguise of fresh snow and surface instabilities, deeper weak layers have produced surprisingly large and dangerous avalanches this week. The hazard for both of these issues is most widespread on leeward and crossloaded slopes near summits and ridgelines. Slopes sheltered from the wind and sky offer good riding today and are less likely to harbor buried weak layers.

Strong winds overnight are drifting a few inches of new snow into thin slabs behind leeward terrain features.  Lurking under a disguise of fresh snow and small instabilities, deeper weak layers have produced surprisingly large and dangerous avalanches this week. The hazard for both of these issues is most widespread on leeward and crossloaded slopes near summits and ridgelines. Slopes sheltered from the wind and sky offer good riding today and are less likely to harbor buried weak layers.

Today you can trigger dense slabs of drifted snow deposited by this week’s storm. These can break at the old snow surface, or on deeply buried weak layers. Triggered slides will be large enough to be dangerous. The hazard is most widespread on leeward and crossloaded slopes near summits and ridgelines. Slopes sheltered from the wind and sky offer good riding today and are less likely to harbor buried weak layers.

Dangerous conditions exist on or below steep slopes near ridgelines today. Dense snow and gusty winds have created slabs 1-3 feet thick that will be reactive to the weight of a person or snowmachine. Natural avalanches are also possible. Both triggered and natural slides could break into deeply buried weak layers. The likelihood of triggering slides – and their potential size – will be greatest at upper elevations.

Dangerous conditions exist on or below steep slopes today. Dense snow and gusty winds have created slabs 1-3 feet thick that will be reactive to the weight of a person or snowmachine. Natural avalanches are also possible. Both triggered and natural slides could break into deeply buried weak layers. The likelihood of triggering slides – and their potential size – will be greatest at upper elevations, and in the Lake McDonald area of Glacier National Park.

A storm will bring dense snow, rain, and wind through the day, creating dangerous avalanche conditions. As the storm ramps up, the danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE with human-triggered avalanches likely and natural avalanches possible. Avalanches in the surface snow may step down to a buried weak layer, resulting in a larger more dangerous slide. Cautious terrain choices and route-finding will be essential.  The danger may rise to HIGH overnight.

Recent mild and dry conditions have allowed our snowpack to gain strength. Yet, cracking, collapsing and triggered avalanches are still occurring in wind drifted areas. Test the snowpack beneath ridgelines and cross-loaded slopes.  

Recent mild and dry conditions have allowed our snowpack to gain strength. Yet, cracking, collapsing and triggered avalanches are still occurring in wind drifted areas. Test the snowpack beneath ridgelines and cross-loaded slopes.  

While the snowpack is slowly strengthening after this week’s storm, people continue to report cracking and collapsing in areas of drifted snow.  Evaluate the snowpack carefully around leeward terrain, above terrain traps, and near rocky or open slopes steeper than about 30 degrees.

The snowpack is adjusting and the danger is trending down, but you can still trigger a large avalanche, especially in windloaded terrain at mid and upper elevations.   Blustery Southwest winds continue to add weight to dense slabs near ridgelines and on crossloaded slopes.  Use caution around leeward terrain, above terrain traps, and near steep, rocky, or open slopes. 

The snowpack is adjusting and the danger is trending down, but you can still trigger a large avalanche, especially in windloaded terrain at mid and upper elevations.   Blustery Southwest winds continue to add weight to dense slabs near ridgelines and on crossloaded slopes.  Use caution around leeward terrain, above terrain traps, and near steep, rocky, or open slopes. 

The action continues...  Unusually warm and sunny weather could destabilize the snowpack and cause further natural avalanche activity on steep, sunny slopes.  Reports of skier triggered slides, collapses, shooting cracks, and an avalanche burial yesterday highlight dangerous conditions.  Practice patience and make conservative choices in windloaded terrain, above terrain traps, and below sunbaked faces and gullies today. 

Winds continue to transport recent snow from Tuesday night's storm, and observers noted several natural avalanches breaking in windloaded terrain yesterday.  Use caution below leeward ridges and in crossloaded gullies.  Shooting cracks and blowing snow are signs of instability