A winter snowpack exists at upper elevations, and this weekend's snow and wind will create more widespread avalanche hazards in this terrain. These are localized to steep slopes with with sufficient snow coverage to ski or ride. Carry rescue gear - beacon, shovel and probe. Look for the obvious clues of danger - recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and whumpfing collapses - if you're on or below steep terrain with continuous snow cover. 

Avalanche season is knocking at the door. A layered snowpack is building at upper elevations, and with that comes the potential for slab avalanches. Avalanche hazards are generally localized to high-elevation terrain with sufficient snow coverage to ski or ride. Look for the obvious clues of danger - recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and whumpfing collapses - if you're on or below steep terrain with continuous snow cover. Conditions may worsen quickly during periods of heavy snow and strong winds. 

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.

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.

Instabilities this weekend will include solar-triggered wet loose slides on Friday and Sunday, and new or windblown snow that accumulates on Saturday.  Concerns for larger persistent slabs are becoming more isolated, but still exist.  

A storm interrupts a week that starts cool and ends warm and sunny. Adapt to conditions of the day. New snow? Put your avalanche toque on and focus on wintertime avalanche hazards, like persistent slabs and new snow hazards. Sunny and warm? Lather up with sunscreen and wet-snow avalanche awareness. Details for the smorgasboard of hazards in the problem descriptions below. 

A storm interrupts a week that starts cool and ends warm and sunny. Adapt to conditions of the day. New snow? Put your avalanche toque on and focus on wintertime avalanche hazards, like persistent slabs and new snow hazards. Sunny and warm? Lather up with sunscreen and wet-snow avalanche awareness. Details for the smorgasboard of hazards in the problem descriptions below. 

Tricky and dynamic conditions ahead.  The weekend starts with dangerous wet snow avalanche conditions on Friday and transitions to cold, dry snow avalanche problems by Sunday.  On Friday, avoid steep terrain where the snowpack is wet or receiving rain.  After the snowpack refreezes later in the weekend, instabilities should be confined to new and wind blown snow, with lingering persistent slab hazards on upper-elevation, shaded slopes. 

The past week's run of remotely-triggered avalanches and near-misses highlights the complex conditions that exist on steep, shady slopes at upper-elevations. This hazard will linger through the week, while windy, warm and sunny weather also increases the likelihood of wet snow avalanche hazards at mid and low elevations and wind slabs near ridges and summits. Start and end your day early, minimize your time under steep start zones, and approach steep terrain cautiously. 

The past week's run of remotely-triggered avalanches and near-misses highlights the complex conditions that exist on steep, shady slopes at upper-elevations. This hazard will linger through the week, while windy, warm and sunny weather also increases the likelihood of wet snow avalanche hazards at mid and low elevations and wind slabs near ridges and summits. Start and end your day early, minimize your time under steep start zones, and approach steep terrain cautiously. 

Several large and destructive persistent slabs ran yesterday.  Although the danger is starting to trend down, conservative terrain selection is the most reliable strategy for avoiding an encounter with a nasty slab that breaks across the slope 2 to 3 feet thick.  

Dial it back.  The avalanche danger will rise today, complicated by buried weak layers and solar warming. In our region, there have been several accidentally triggered, large avalanches this week on shaded aspects. Sun-baked slopes will shed the new snow as the strong April sun emerges today.  Carefully assess the snowpack before traveling in steep terrain.  The safest way to enjoy the fresh powder is on low angle terrain or on shaded aspects below 5,500'.  

A SPECIAL AVALANCHE ADVISORY is in effect for the Flathead Range.

Dial it back.  Dangerous avalanche conditions will develop today, complicated by buried weak layers and solar warming. There have been several accidentally triggered, large avalanches this week on shaded aspects. Sun-baked slopes will shed the new snow as the strong April sun emerges today.  Conservative terrain selection is essential: the safest way to enjoy the fresh powder is on low angle terrain or on shaded aspects below 5,500'.  

The danger is only slowly diminishing since two incidents involving large persistent slabs occurred on Wednesday.  The snowpack becomes increasingly complex and harder to manage as you gain elevation: cautious travel is paramount.  The safest riding today is on low angle slopes or sheltered terrain below about 5,700'.