Good morning. This is Dave Zinn with a spring weather and snowpack update on Monday, April 11th. The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center has stopped issuing daily avalanche forecasts for the season. We will issue weather and snowpack updates on Monday and Friday mornings through April.
On Monday morning, mountain temperatures are in the single digits to mid-teens F with west to southwest winds blowing 5-15 mph. Sunday night the mountains received 1-2” of new snow. A significant spring storm will move into Southwest Montana Monday afternoon through the middle of the week. Daily high temperatures will be in the teens to 20s F with 10-20 mph winds. The mountains will likely get 10-20” of snow through Wednesday when the storm lightens.
All Regions
In the mountains around Bozeman, Big Sky, West Yellowstone and Cooke City, large avalanches are currently unlikely because a thick melt-freeze crust below several inches of recent snow is generally isolating skiers and riders from deeper instabilities. However, avalanche conditions can and will change rapidly when this week’s storm arrives.
New snow and wind-drifted snow will become the primary concerns. Avalanches will fail above the crust as loose snow “sluffs”, dangerous in technical terrain, or slab avalanches that involve a greater volume of snow that could bury a skier or rider. The wind will transport snow during and after the storm loading slopes and creating cohesive slabs of drifted snow that can break across wide areas.
This week, test the snowpack down to the icy melt-freeze crust below the new snow. If you don’t find a crust, test the upper 3’ of the snowpack for isolated areas with persistent weak layers buried 1-3’ deep. Choose more conservative terrain if you observe signs of instability such as recent avalanche activity, cracking, collapsing or get unstable test results.
Continue to follow safe travel protocols by skiing and riding with a partner, carrying a beacon, probe and shovel and exposing only one person at a time to avalanche terrain. Be prepared to make more conservative decisions in the face of increasing avalanche danger as snow accumulates through the week.
Wet snow avalanches are not likely based on the week’s forecast. However, conditions change quickly in the spring and an hour or two of sunny skies and above freezing temperatures will make wet snow avalanches possible.
A Note on Bridger Bowl: Backcountry conditions will quickly take over within the boundaries of Bridger Bowl without the daily avalanche mitigation efforts of the ski patrol (video). Commonly traveled routes such the North Bowl Road and any slope steeper than 30 degrees are avalanche terrain including most of the Ridge and Slushmans terrain). Other groups moving around in the area complicate principles of safe travel. With no ski patrol services, call 911 in case of emergency.
We will issue spring snowpack and weather updates each Monday and Friday through April, or as needed, and we will share relevant avalanche and snowpack information on our website and social media. If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our website, email (mtavalanche@gmail.com), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).
Announcements, Avalanche Education and Events
Bridger Bowl is closed, and backcountry conditions exist. There is no avalanche mitigation or ski patrol rescue. In case of emergency, call 911. Please stay clear of work areas, snowmobiles, chair lifts and other equipment. Starting Monday, uphill travel is permitted everywhere except the Pierre’s Knob area until 12:30 p.m. and after 12:30 p.m., uphill travel is permitted throughout the Bridger Bowl Ski Area.
See our education calendar for an up-to-date list of all local classes.
GENERAL SPRING SNOWPACK AND TRAVEL ADVICE
Spring weather can be highly variable and create a mix of avalanche problems. Snow conditions and stability can change drastically from day to day or hour to hour. Anticipate rapid change and plan accordingly. Abundant snowfall over the winter with more spring snow to come makes avalanches possible into summer.
NEW SNOW AND WIND LOADED SLOPES
Spring storms are notorious for depositing heavy amounts of snow in the mountains. Even with a deep and generally stable snowpack throughout the advisory area, heavy and rapid loads of new snow will decrease stability. The main problems to look out for are avalanches breaking within the new snow, wind slabs, and loose snow avalanches. The likelihood of triggering an avalanche spikes during and immediately after snowstorms. New snow instabilities tend to stabilize quickly, but it’s a good idea to give fresh snow a day to adjust before hitting big terrain. New snow instabilities can be challenging to assess, and spring storms bond to old snow differently across aspects and elevations. Conservative terrain selection is essential during and immediately following storms. Avoid wind-loaded slopes and slopes steeper than 35 degrees for 24-48 hours after new snow and wind.
New snow can quickly change from dry to wet on a spring day, and stability can decrease rapidly with above freezing temperatures or brief sunshine. New snow may bond well early in the morning and then easily slide later. Wet loose slides are likely during the first above freezing temperatures or sunshine immediately after a storm. Anticipate changes in snow stability as you change aspect or elevation and over the course of the day. An early start is always an advantage. Be ready to change plans or move to safer terrain at the first signs of decreasing stability.
WET SNOW AVALANCHES
Spring and wet snow avalanches go hand-in-hand. Above freezing temperatures, rain, and/or intense sunshine cause the snow to become wet and weak and make wet avalanches easy to trigger or release naturally. Conditions tend to become most unstable when temperatures stay above freezing for multiple days and nights in a row. Avoid steep terrain, and be aware of the potential for natural wet avalanches in steep terrain above you, if you see:
- Heavy rain
- Above freezing temperatures for more than 24 hours
- Natural wet avalanches
- Rollerballs or pinwheels that indicating a moist or wet snow surface
- Or, if you sink to your boot top in wet snow.
In general, if the snow surface freezes solid overnight, the snowpack will be stable in the morning and stability will decrease through the day as snow warms up. The snow surface hardness, rate of warming, duration of sunshine, aspect and elevation determine how fast stability will decrease through the day. Be aware that sunny aspects may have a wet snow avalanche danger while shadier slopes still have a dry snow avalanche danger. Getting off of steep slopes should be considered when, or before, the above signs of instability are present. Wet snow avalanches, whether loose snow or slabs, can be powerful, destructive and very dangerous. Conservative terrain choices, starting early in the day, and careful observations can keep you safe. See Alex’s recent video, and this article for more spring travel advice.
CORNICES
Cornices along ridgelines are massive and can break under the weight of a person (photo). Prolonged above freezing temperatures and rain make them weaker and possible to break naturally. They can break off suddenly and farther back than one might expect. Cornice falls can also entrain large amounts of loose snow or trigger slab avalanches. Stay far back from the edge of ridgelines and minimize exposure to slopes directly below cornices. Regardless of whether a cornice triggers a slide or not, a falling cornice is dangerous to anyone in its path.
DISCLAIMER
It does not matter if new snow falls or not, avalanches will continue to occur until the existing snowpack is mostly gone. Always assess the slope you plan to ride with diligence and safety in mind. Do not let your guard down. Travel with a partner, carry rescue gear and only expose one person at a time in avalanche terrain.
Have a safe and enjoyable spring and summer!
Doug, Alex, Ian and Dave
For more spring travel advice see this article from our GNFAC forecaster blog.
Snow will be around the mountains for a month or two and avalanches will continue. When warm temperatures return, wet snow hazards will increase. If there are big spring snowstorms, dangerous conditions may develop for new snow avalanches and wind slabs. With either extended warming or a big storm, there is still a lingering possibility of deep avalanches breaking on weak, sugary snow near the ground. See this article for some general spring travel advice.