Enjoy generally stable avalanche conditions with isolated areas of wind drifted snow. This wind drifted snow should be easy to identify below recent cornice formation or pillow looking surfaces. If you see fresh drifts, steer around them.  Small slides can be consequential if they push you into a stand of trees or over a cliff band.

Winds are increasing and conditions are changing. Watch for new and recent snow to drift into shallow slabs in wind-exposed locations.  These could be dangerous around terrain traps, or if they entrain or step down into older snow.  Wind sheltered terrain is serving up the safest and best quality riding right now. Mind your sluffs though. 

Though avalanche activity is quieting down, human triggered avalanches are still possible today.  Watch for lingering instabilities in steep terrain, especially in areas where winds have drifted or stiffened the snow.  Be careful around terrain traps where the consequences of a small slide could make for big trouble.  The safest riding today is in wind protected terrain. 

Though avalanche activity is quieting down, human triggered avalanches are still possible today.  Watch for lingering instabilities in steep terrain, especially in areas where winds have drifted or stiffened the snow.  Be careful around terrain traps where the consequences of a small slide could make for big trouble.  The safest riding today is in wind protected terrain. 

Shifting winds have built slabs over persistent weak layers on many aspects. They need time to heal. Avoid steep leeward slopes where soft slabs of drifted snow may be large enough to injure or bury you. In sheltered terrain, sluffs can entrain large amounts of snow and deep debris can pile up in terrain traps. Watch for rounded drifts below ridgelines and the sidewalls of gullies. Shooting cracks in drifted snow, and long running sluffs are signs of instability.

Several parties had near misses with avalanches that broke in unexpected ways yesterday. Recent storm slabs resting on top of weak layers and crusts will be slow to heal. Conservative terrain choices and low slope angles are your ticket to safe riding today. Where the surface is unconsolidated, sluffs can entrain large amounts of snow and deep debris can pile up in terrain traps. Avoid slopes with overhead exposure to alpine start zones where deep slabs are still a concern.

A storm favoring the Swan and Flathead Ranges is creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Be conservative and avoid steep slopes where soft slabs of new and drifted snow may be large enough to injure or bury you. In sheltered terrain, sluffs can entrain large amounts of snow and deep debris can pile up in terrain traps. Recent avalanches, blowing snow, and shooting cracks are red flags. 

Avoid being on or under steep, shady, upper-elevation slopes where the snowpack is broken by rocks, small cliffs, or convexities. In this terrain, the potential for natural and triggered slides that break near the ground lingers. The potential for triggered slides involving snow near the surface is isolated to very steep terrain with recently-formed slabs of drifted snow, or more than 10 inches of loose dry snow. 

Avalanche hazards are isolated to very steep terrain. You're most likely to find these pockets in upper elevation, leeward slopes near ridges and summits. Where the hazard exists, it can involve recently-formed slabs of drifted snow, or sluffs of loose, dry snow. Consider consequences as much as likelihood, and adhere to safe travel practices as insurance against surprises.

On steep, mid- and upper-elevation slopes, you can trigger avalanches that break near the hard crust left by this weekend's tropical weather. These mostly involve recently-formed slabs of drifted snow on leeward and cross-loaded slopes. Sluffs of loose, dry snow pose a hazard on steep slopes of any aspect. Be alert for clues to these hazards - shooting cracks, whumpfing, hard but hollow-feeling drifts, and, as always, recent natural or triggered avalanches.

Sustained winds and new snow have broadened the avalanche danger in the Flathead Range and Glacier National Park. Freshly-formed slabs of wind drifted snow can be large enough to bury or injure you today. Remain hesitant of upper elevation, north- through east-facing terrain where deep slab avalanches have run as recently as this past weekend.

New snow and wind will increase the avalanche danger today by forming slabs of wind-drifted snow at upper elevations. While most of these will be relatively small, they can be consequential if they push you over a cliff, into a stand of trees, or into a gully. Watch for blowing snow and pillowy-looking snow surfaces; these are cues to seek wind-sheltered terrain.

Take advantage of a stable snowpack while it lasts. If snow accumulations pick up earlier than expected, new snow will slide easily as it falls onto a slick melt-freeze crust. Exercise safe travel protocols by traveling one at a time in avalanche terrain, keeping eyes on your partner.

Below Saturday's rain line, a solid melt-freeze crust has locked the snowpack in place.  Today is a beautiful day to climb high into the mountains, where conditions are softer and views are spectacular. Choose your terrain carefully as you ascend above the crust: stay on slopes with deep and uniform snowpacks.  Several very destructive deep slabs ran only two days ago: though buried persistent weak layers are difficult to trigger, they are also slow to adjust and carry huge consequences.