Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

as of 5:00 am
Today3″ | 10-25 W
Mar 27 1″ | 10-20 NW
Mar 26 0″ | 15-25 NW
10020′     03/28 at 12:00
22.1℉
S - 15mph
Gusts 34 mph
9100′     03/28 at 12:00
27℉
74″ Depth
Primary Problem: Wind-Drifted Snow
Bottom Line: New snow and wind-loading are the main avalanche concerns today. They are creating instability in the upper 1+ foot of the snowpack, and the weaker, faceted snow near the ground is more difficult to trigger, but not impossible. Rocks sticking out in starting zones indicate shallow areas where a person could trigger a large and deadly slide. Today is a day of active loading and the snowpack will be most sensitive to triggering, both naturally and by people. Dangerous avalanche conditions are back. Be careful getting near avalanche terrain and be especially mindful of terrain traps.

Past 5 Days

Sun Mar 24

Considerable
Mon Mar 25

Moderate
Tue Mar 26

Moderate
Wed Mar 27

Moderate
Today

Considerable

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Windslabs North of Cooke city
Incident details include images
COOKE CITY
N-R1-D1-I
Elevation: 9,800
Aspect: S
Coordinates: 45.0202, -109.9380
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From obs: "skiing north of cooke city today observed this Small windslab on a South facing slope ~9800 ft."
 

 


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
Zimmer Creek
Small Windslab Zimmer Creek
Incident details include images
Zimmer Creek
AS-R1-D1-I
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.0999, -109.8840
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From obs: "Triggered this small windslab while skinning near a steeprollover at the top of an East facing slope above Zimmer Creek. Crown was ~20 ft wide and ran a similar distance. 2"-10" at the deepest."


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
Wind Slab Avalanches Below Pine Martin Ridge
Incident details include images
SS-NC-I
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.0074, -109.8910
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From obs: "Today (03/26/2024) there were strong winds loading snow onto the Northeast face off of Pine Martin Ridge, just North of Ram Pasture. When we got a better view of the slope, we noticed there had been a natural wind-slab avalanche (left), possibly triggered by a cornice fall. While transitioning, we saw a small part of the same cornice break off and trigger a similar wind slab avalanche (right). "

 


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • From obs: "skiing north of cooke city today observed this Small windslab on a South facing slope ~9800 ft." G. Roe
     

     

  • Skiers triggered this small windslab while skinning near a steeprollover at the top of an East facing slope above Zimmer Creek. Crown was ~20 ft wide and ran a similar distance. 2"-10" at the deepest. Photo: G. Roe

  • Skiers south of Cooke City saw a recent likely cornice-triggered avalanche on a northeast face. During their tour, they saw a small part of the same cornice fall off and trigger another small avalanche. Photo: B. Daley

     

  • A snowboarder intentionally triggered a wind-slab avalanche on Town Hill in Cooke City that broke 6-10” deep and approximately 30’ wide. It ran about 40 vertical feet. Photo: R. Youngbar

  • On the east side of Woody Ridge, skiers watched a wet, loose snow avalanche trigger a dry slab avalanche on March 17. photo: N Iltis

  • On the east side of Woody Ridge, skiers watched a wet, loose snow avalanche trigger a dry slab avalanche on March 17. photo: N Iltis

  • We saw no new deep slab avalanches in Cooke City since Alex was there last week. Unfortunately, if you triggered one, it would be no less deadly. This was a large deep slab avalanche on Sheep Mountain. Photo: GNFAC

  • Wet loose snow avalanche Astral Lake. Photo: GNFAC

  • A wet loose snow avalanche on Crown Butte. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 3/10/24 Between Miller and Wolverine there was a recent large avalanche that I would guess was triggered yesterday. 3-6' deep, 250-300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 3/10/24 Low on Daisy Road along the steep creek walls we saw three recent 2' deep avalanches. each 70-100' wide. HS-R4-D2-O. This one looked within the last day or two and the other two were maybe 3-4 days old. Triggers unknown, there were various ages of sled/snowbike tracks nearby. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 3/10/24 Low on Daisy Road along the steep creek walls we saw three recent 2'+ deep avalanches. each 70-100' wide. HS-R4-D2-O. This one maybe 3-4 days old. Triggers unknown, there were various ages of sled/snowbike tracks nearby. Photo: GNFAC

  • A natural avalanche was witnessed on the north side of Republic Mtn. on 3/9 at 4:54pm. It appeared to break around 3 feet deep. Photo: screenshot from IG, M. Simone

  • A natural avalanche was witnessed on the north side of Republic Mtn. on 3/9 at 4:54pm. It appeared to break around 3 feet deep. Photo: screenshot from IG, M. Simone

  • E aspect, 9100' Photo: B. Fredlund 

     

  • N aspect, 9600' Photo: B. Fredlund

     

  • E aspect, 8800' Photo: B. Fredlund 

     

  • SE aspect, 8800' Photo: B. Fredlund 

     

  • Skiers saw a natural avalanche that likely happened late last week in Pilot Creek. The avalanche ran 1000 feet on a SE facing slope. Photo: J. Mundt

  • A natural avalanche in Woody Creek, right by the waterfall. D2, crown was up to 5 feet deep. NE facing. Photo: J. Mundt

  • E aspect, 9100'. Photo: B. Fredlund

     

     

  • E aspect, 8800'.  Photo: B. Fredlund

     

  • SE aspect, 9000'. Photo: B. Fredlund

     

     

  • NE aspect, 9300' Photo: B. Fredlund

     

  • E aspect, 8900'. Photo: B. Fredlund

     

  • On 3/9/24 there was a big avalanche on the northeast side of Sheep that was previously not reported. It was there this morning so maybe happened yesterday. 6-8'+ deep, 500' wide R4-D3-O. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 3/9/24 there was a big avalanche on the northeast side of Sheep that was previously not reported. It was there this morning so maybe happened yesterday. 6-8'+ deep, 500' wide R4-D3-O. Photo: GNFAC

  • This morning (3/9/24) we saw previous avalanches on Henderson Mtn. in better light and got a photo of one on the lower Henderson Bench. Showing wide propagation through thick trees. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 03/08/2024 we observed widespread avalanches along Henderson Bench as well, below the steep break over in the trees, 3'+ deep breaking across multiple terrain features through thick trees, most of the bench slid, and appeared to have happened last weekend. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • On my drive to Cooke City I saw old slab avalanches in YNP near Mammoth and on Abiathar and Ampitheater among other places. These appeared to have happened earlier in the week. I also saw a more fresh looking persistent slab avalanche on Barronette, 2-3' deep and as wide as its terrain feature, 100-200' Photo: GNFAC

  • We saw one small but deep slab on the north side of Scotch Bonnet on 03/08/2024 that likely happened today or late yesterday. 6' deep x 30' wide, R1-D1.5. Photo: GNFAC

  • A recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • The crown of a recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet that happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • The crown of a recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet that happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • The debris from a recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet that happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • We observed another fresh slide in the Rastas (one that didn't slide last weekend) that looked fresh yesterday or today, 4' deep hard slab, R3-D2-O. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC

Videos- Cooke City Area

WebCams


Soda Butte Lodge, looking West

Soda Butte Lodge, looking East

Snowpit Profiles- Cooke City Area

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Cooke City Area

Extended Forecast for

2 Miles NNE Cooke City MT

  • This
    Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Snow showers. Some thunder is also possible.  High near 36. West southwest wind 16 to 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of around 3 inches.

    Snow Showers

    High: 36 °F

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Snow showers likely before 9pm, then snow, mainly between 9pm and 3am. Some thunder is also possible.  Low around 16. West wind 6 to 16 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around 3 inches.

    Snow

    Low: 16 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: Snow likely, mainly after noon.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. West wind 5 to 9 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    Slight Chance
    Snow then
    Snow Likely

    High: 30 °F

  • Friday
    Night

    Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    Low: 15 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Snow, mainly after noon.  High near 31. East southeast wind around 6 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around 2 inches.

    Chance Snow
    then Snow

    High: 31 °F

  • Saturday
    Night

    Saturday Night: Snow likely, mainly before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. North wind around 7 mph becoming south after midnight.  Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    Snow Likely
    then Chance
    Snow

    Low: 16 °F

  • Sunday

    Sunday: Snow, mainly after noon.  High near 31. North northeast wind 8 to 14 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    Chance Snow
    then Snow

    High: 31 °F

  • Sunday
    Night

    Sunday Night: Snow likely, mainly before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. North wind 8 to 14 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%.

    Snow Likely
    then Slight
    Chance Snow

    Low: 12 °F

  • Monday

    Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph.

    Mostly Sunny

    High: 36 °F

The Last Word

If you have a few minutes, take a survey on how you interpreting avalanche forecast information in hopes of improving avalanche forecasting methods.

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