AVALANCHE WARNING issued for entire advisory area including the Whitefish, Swan, and Flathead Ranges, and portions of Glacier Park. The avalanche hazard is HIGH. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Human triggered avalanches reported every day over the last four days. New snow and winds over buried surface hoar 1.5 to 2.5 feet deep make human triggered avalanches very likely and natural avalanches likely with the potential to be large and destructive. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

AVALANCHE WARNING issued for entire advisory area including the Whitefish, Swan, and Flathead Ranges, and portions of Glacier Park. The avalanche hazard is HIGH. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Human triggered avalanches reported every day over the last four days. New snow and winds over buried surface hoar 1.5 to 2.5 feet deep make human triggered avalanches very likely and natural avalanches likely with the potential to be large and destructive. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

The avalanche hazard above 5000 feet is CONSIDERABLE today. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Buried surface hoar 1.5 to 2 feet deep and fresh wind slabs continue to make human triggered avalanches likely. These conditions require careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision making. 

We are allowing the avalanche warning to expire, however dangerous conditions still exist in the advisory area. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision making are essential if traveling in the backcountry today.

We are allowing the avalanche warning to expire, however dangerous conditions still exist in the advisory area. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision making are essential if traveling in the backcountry today.

 An AVALANCHE WARNING has been issued for all terrain above 6000 feet. Natural avalanche activity is likely above 6000 feet and remains possible below.  New snow, warming, and wind continue to stress weak snow in the upper snow pack. Travel in avalanche terrain, run-out zones, and terrain traps is not recommended today.

New snow and wind drifted snow accumulated on a weak snow surface yesterday and overnight. Continued winds and a small amount of new snow today will continue to add stress to this layer of buried surface hoar.  Human triggered avalanches are likely particularly on wind loaded slopes. Conservative decision making while traveling in the back country will be essential today.

New snow and wind drifted snow accumulated on a weak snow surface yesterday and overnight. Continued winds and a small amount of new snow today will continue to add stress to this layer of buried surface hoar.  Human triggered avalanches are likely particularly on wind loaded slopes. Conservative decision making while traveling in the back country will be essential today.

Unscheduled Avalanche Update - New snow and wind through today will cause the avalanche hazard to rise to Considerable above 5000 feet by the end of the day. Weak snow exists near the top of our snowpack. Human triggered avalanches are likely particularly on wind loaded slopes due to increasing wind and new snow load on top of these weak layers. Conservative decision making and cautious route-finding are essential now particularly after a prolonged period of lower avalanche hazard. 

The avalanche hazard above 6000 feet is Moderate, but could rise to Considerable by later today with new snow and wind on the way. The hazard below 6000 feet is Low, but could rise to Moderate. Surface hoar and facets exist at and near the top of our snowpack. A substantial new snow load on top of these weak layers will cause the avalanche hazard to rise. 

The avalanche hazard above 6000 feet is Moderate, but could rise to Considerable by later today with new snow and wind on the way. The hazard below 6000 feet is Low, but could rise to Moderate. Surface hoar and facets exist at and near the top of our snowpack. A substantial new snow load on top of these weak layers will cause the avalanche hazard to rise. 

The snowpack continues to show signs of strengthening. However, some signs of instability still exist on slopes with a shallow snowpack. Above 6000 feet the avalanche hazard is MODERATE on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. The hazard is LOW in all other locations. It is still important to evaluate all slopes before riding or skiing, particularly areas with a shallow snowpack. 

The Swan Range picked up the lion's share of the storm totals yesterday, other locations received between 3 and 6 inches of new snow. Winds associated with the frontal passage created sensitive wind slabs at higher elevations. Thus, wind loaded slopes above 6000 feet are rated considerable. For today, it is best to avoid wind loaded terrain, even if wind slabs appear relatively thin.

The Swan Range received a substantial amount of precipitation in the past 24 hours. As of 10:00pm last night Noisy Basin SNOTEL reported 8 inches of new snow with a snow water equivalent of 1.3 inches in the previous 24 hour period.In addition to stress added to previously formed weak layers, the storm snow needs time to settle and bond to the old snow surface. For today, avoid terrain steeper than 35º in areas that received this rapid load.