Good Morning. This is Dave Zinn with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Forecast on Tuesday, January 14th at 7:15 a.m. Today’s forecast is sponsored by Mystery Ranch and World Boards. This forecast does not apply to operating ski areas.
The mountains around West Yellowstone and Cooke City received 3-5” of snow in the last 24 hours, Big Sky to the north remained dry. Temperatures were 5-15 F degrees and winds were 10-20 mph from the southwest. Today, West Yellowstone and Cooke City will get 4-8” of snow with 2-3” in the northern ranges. Winds will be 15-30 mph from the southwest and temperatures will be in the teens.
The southern ranges near West Yellowstone have the weakest snowpack structure in our advisory area and, in the last two days, they received the most snow. With 10-16” equal to 1-1.4” of snow water equivalent (SWE) (video) and 4-8” forecast today, dangerous avalanche conditions persist. The most likely avalanches will occur within the new snow and in areas where the wind is depositing large drifts of snow, but large avalanches failing on weak layers near the ground are possible as new snow stresses the snowpack (photo, photo). Either of these avalanche concerns will be large enough to bury, injure, or kill a skier or rider. Today, careful route finding to avoid steep slopes and runout zones will keep you out of harm’s way. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all slopes.
Yesterday in Cooke City, skiers approaching Meridian Peak remotely triggered an avalanche that broke 15” deep and 50’ wide (avalanche activity). This avalanche was relatively large on the path in which it occurred and gives us a window into what could happen on a bigger slope. While I was pleasantly surprised by the stability I found in my snowpits there the last two days, the key information is that more than 50” of snow fell since New Year’s Day and we saw large plumes of snow create by the wind (video, video, photo). Avalanches breaking within freshly deposited drifts of snow will be large and avalanches breaking on weak layers deep in the snowpack will be deadly and remain a consideration. Avoid steep wind loaded slopes and assess non-wind loaded terrain before entering avalanche terrain. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind loaded slopes and MODERATE on non-wind loaded slopes.
The weak snowpack structure near Big Sky is producing avalanches. On Sunday, Doug saw three natural avalanches that broke near the ground in the Buck Ridge area (avalanche activity, video). The Big Sky Ski Patrol continues to trigger meaty wind slabs and an occasional deep slab avalanche. In the Bridger Range, the wind picked up in the afternoon transporting new snow. Yesterday, skiers north of Bridger Bowl reported a human triggered soft slab avalanche breaking 18-24” deep (avalanche activity). Give special consideration to slopes with freshly drifted snow and assess all steep slopes to determine the risk of larger avalanches before entering avalanche terrain. Human triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.
The Northern Gallatin Range has received less snow than the rest of our advisory area and has a generally strong snowpack. With 13” of new snow and 1” of SWE in the last six days, the primary concern is snow drifted by winds gusting into the 40s mph. Alex explains these issues in his video from Mount Blackmore on Saturday. With continued winds and light snowfall forecast for today, avoid areas with freshly drifted snow and watch for cracks shooting out from your feet as signs of instability. Assess slopes for the consequences of small avalanches before committing to steep terrain. Avalanche danger is MODERATE on wind loaded slopes and LOW on non-wind loaded slopes.
If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can fill out an observation form, email us (mtavalanche@gmail.com), leave a VM at 406-587-6984, or Instagram (#gnfacobs).
Webpage dedicated to the Centennial Range in Idaho and Montana
After the two snowmobiler avalanche fatalities on Reas Peak in the Centennial Range in January 2018 we created a webpage so riders could get good, relevant information regarding snowpack and avalanches. Although the Centennial Range is not part of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center's forecast area, we are the closest avalanche center and have valuable information to share. More…
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out and plan to attend one or two: Events and Education Calendar.
COOKE CITY
Every Friday and Saturday, Snowpack Update and Rescue Training. Friday, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Soda Butte Lodge. Saturday anytime between 10-2 @ Round Lake.
BOZEMAN
January 15 and 16, Introduction to Avalanche w/ Field Course, evenings of January 15 & 16 plus one field day either January 18, 19 or 25. Snowmobile specific field day offered January 25. More Info and Register Here.
January 27, Avalanche Information and Demonstration Table, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Montana Science Center.
January 29, GNFAC Forecaster Chat: Avalanche Myth Busters, 6-8 p.m. at Uphill Pursuits.
January 31, Women’s Only Companion Rescue Clinic, 6 - 8 pm at REI followed by a field day February 1. More info and Register Here.
February 1, King and Queen of the Ridge at Bridger Bowl (fundraiser). This is the Friends of the Avalanche Center’s second biggest fundraiser of the year. Come on out and help us raise money by hiking and skiing laps on the ridge. Prizes, camaraderie and a good time is guaranteed. Register with Bridger to hike in the event, and create a pledge page to raise funds with your Ridge laps.
BUTTE
January 15, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 7-8 p.m. at 5518 Designs.
DILLON
January 15, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 7-8 p.m. at University of Montana Western.
January 29 and 30, Introduction to Avalanche w/ Field Course, evenings of January 29 & 30 plus a field day February 1. Snowmobile specific field day offered February 2. More Info and Register Here.
WHITEHALL
January 18, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Homestake Lodge.
WEST YELLOWSTONE
January 25, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 7-8 p.m. at West Yellowstone Holiday Inn.
February 1, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 7-8 p.m. at West Yellowstone Holiday Inn.
HELENA
January 28, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7 p.m. Carroll College.
LIVINGSTON
January 30, Introduction to Avalanche w/ Field Course, evening of January 30 plus a field day February 2. More info and Register Here.
“Likelihood is not Danger”. See this recent blog from the Flathead Avalanche Center discussing how potential size and consequences of avalanches can determine our travel advice.