This is Mark Staples with the avalanche forecast for Tuesday, January 29th, at 7:00 a.m. sponsored by Montana State Parks and Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue. This forecast does not apply to operating ski areas.
Mountain temperatures this morning are in the upper 20s and low 30s F while most valleys are 20 degrees colder. Winds from the W and NW are generally light but gusty in the Bridger Range.
It’ll be another warm and sunny day. Winds should remain mostly light and temperatures will rise into the mid 30s F with some places getting into the low 40s F.
Get ready for a prolonged period of active weather. Snowfall should start late Friday, and the jet stream will generally stay over the forecast area well into next week continually bringing moisture into the area from the W and SW. Models don’t show high pressure returning until about 2 weeks out
All Regions
Watch for two things today:
1 - Small wet loose avalanches may happen on sunny slopes especially ones with exposed rocks that add extra heat to the snow. These small slides will mostly be an issue if you’re in confined gullies.
2 - Wind slabs should mostly have bonded to underlying snow, BUT some wind slabs may be resting on faceted snow that formed during cold, dry weather on MLK weekend. These wind slabs resting on facets may remain unstable. This is mostly an isolated problem, and the challenge is that there is no way of identifying them. Avoiding any spot that appears to have previously drifted snow is a good solution. The most recent wind slab avalanches happened on Monday in Hyalite, another in Hyalite on Sunday, and one on Sunday in the Bridger Range.
If you do get onto a slope with some old wind slabs, consider the consequences of triggering one and select slopes with a smooth, clean runout with no rocks, trees, or terrain traps.
** In southern parts of the forecast area, persistent slab avalanches are unlikely. By next week this could change with significant snowfall and wind.
Don’t let your guard down today because you can still find unstable snow in isolated areas. Otherwise avalanche conditions are generally safe and the danger is LOW.
KING AND QUEEN OF THE RIDGE
Join us for the King & Queen of the Ridge this Saturday at Bridger Bowl! Hike, ride and help us raise money. It’s a blast! Fundraising prizes for the top 5 individuals who raise over $500. No racing is necessary to compete for the fundraising prizes. Info to fundraise HERE or donate here.
***Race participants for the King and Queen of the Ridge must register separately with Bridger Bowl here***
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar
February 20, 4-7 p.m. Beacon BBQ at Uphill Pursuits in Bozeman. Come try out different brands of avalanche transceivers (or practice with your own!) with coaching from Friends of GNFAC instructors and free hotdogs.
Every weekend in Cooke City: Friday at The Antlers at 7 p.m., Free Avalanche Awareness and Current Conditions talk, and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Round Lake Warming Hut, Free Rescue Practice.
Thank you for sharing observations. Please let us know about avalanches, weather or signs of instability via the form on our website, or you can email us at mtavalanche@gmail.com, or call the office phone at 406-587-6984.