Trip Planning for Northern Madison

View Weather and Avalanche Log
24 Hour Snowfall and Wind
as of 5:00 am
Today0″ | 10-30 NW
Apr 14 0″ | 5-20 SW
Apr 13 0″ | 20-50 SW
Timberline Station
9400′     4/15 at 21:00
33 ℉
NW - 9 mph, Gusts 18
0 " New
Lone Mountain SNOTEL
8880′     04/15 at 21:00
36℉
38″ Depth
Primary Problem: Wet Snow
Bottom Line: Daily forecasts are done for the season, but avalanches will continue. Remain diligent with your snowpack assessments and route-finding, and adapt your decision-making to changing conditions. On Monday and Tuesday, wet snow avalanches are likely. The snow is unstable on a spectrum, from when the upper few inches of the snowpack are wet and slushy to the entire snowpack being unsupportable. Avoid steep slopes and runout zones where these scenarios are present. Beginning Tuesday night, as snow returns to the area, watch for signs of instability within the new and wind-drifted snow, such as shooting cracks, and dig down until you find a supportable crust to test for instability above this level. Avoid steep slopes where you find instability.

Past 5 Days

Thu Apr 11

Considerable
Fri Apr 12

Considerable
Sat Apr 13

Considerable
Sun Apr 14

Considerable
Today

None

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Northern Madison
Taylor Fork
Remotely triggered, wet slab avalanche in the Taylor Fork
Incident details include images
Taylor Fork
WS-AMr-R2-D2-O
Elevation: 8,600
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.0607, -111.2720
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From IG: A group of riders noted very wet snow west of Cabin Creek and Southwest of the Taylor Fork. They were sinking to the ground where it was unconsolidated. The group remotely triggered a wet slab avalanche from the ridge top. There were shooting cracks that connected their location to the avalanche. This is an interesting of persistent weak layer and wet snow avalanche problems. 


More Avalanche Details

Shooting crack west of cabin Creek 2

Remotely triggered wet slab avalanche West of cabin Creek
Southern Madison
Quake Lake
Wet Slab Avalanche Above Quake Lake
Incident details include images
Quake Lake
WS-N-R2-D2-G
Coordinates: 44.8524, -111.3920
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From IG: Wet slide to the ground above Quake Lake. 


More Avalanche Details

Wet slab above quake lake
Southern Madison
Sphinx Mountain
Cornice Collapse on the Sphinx
Incident details include images
Sphinx Mountain
C-ASu
Coordinates: 45.1582, -111.4770
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From obs: " Unintentionally triggered a large cornice collapse on the south face of the Sphinx. " 


More Avalanche Details

Cornice Collapse on the Sphinx

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • Shooting crack west of cabin Creek 2

    A group remotely triggered a wet slab avalanche from the ridge top. There were shooting cracks that connected their location to the avalanche. This is an interesting of persistent weak layer and wet snow avalanche problems. Photo: M Harry 

  • Remotely triggered wet slab avalanche West of cabin Creek

    A group remotely triggered a wet slab avalanche from the ridge top. There were shooting cracks that connected their location to the avalanche. This is an interesting of persistent weak layer and wet snow avalanche problems. Photo: M Harry 

  • Wet Loose in Beehive, 2 04/04

    Observed on 04/05/2024: "Photo of recent loose wet avalanches that likely happened 24-48 hours ago on SW-W aspect at ~9800'" Photo: Z. Peterson

  • Wet Loose in Beehive, 1 04/04

    Observed on 04/05/2024: "Photo of recent loose wet avalanches that likely happened 24-48 hours ago on SW-W aspect at ~9800'" Photo: Z. Peterson

  • Human-triggered cornice and wind slab, Buck Ridge

    On a small test slope near Muddy Creek we intentionally triggered several small avalanches in wind-loaded terrain by knocking chunks of cornice off. Photo: GNFAC

  • Cracking in fresh drifts near sled

    While riding we saw cracking forming near our sleds in fresh drifts: Photo: GNFAC

  • Winds drifting at ridge top

    Strong wind transporting snow at ridge tops. Photo: GNFAC

  • Natural wind slab, Buck Ridge

    We saw this recent avalanche near the Bear Creek wilderness boundary while riding on 03/24/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • Natural wind slab avalanche behind McAtee

    We saw this natural avalanche on a wind-loaded slope behind McAtee Basin. Photo: GNFAC

  • Rider triggered slide in Taylor Fork

    A rider triggered this avalanche in Taylor Fork on 3/16/24. "Avalanche broke about 400ft wide and slid for 250 ft. 4-2ft deep at the crown."

  • Beehive Basin, west side of basin, east facing slope.

    Skiers saw a natural avalanche on east-facing terrain at 9500' in Beehive Basin. Photo: Anonymous 

  • Beehive basin avalanche, 4

    Skiers triggered this slope by dropping a section of cornice onto the slope. This avalanche broke 500' wide, and ranged in depth from 18" or 6'. Photo: P. Hess

  • Beehive basin avalanche, 3

    Skiers triggered this slope by dropping a section of cornice onto the slope. This avalanche broke 500' wide, and ranged in depth from 18" or 6'. Photo: P. Hess

  • Beehive basin avalanche, 2

    Skiers triggered this slope by dropping a section of cornice onto the slope. This avalanche broke 500' wide, and ranged in depth from 18" or 6'. Photo: P. Hess

  • Beehive basin avalanche, 1

    Skiers triggered this slope by dropping a section of cornice onto the slope. This avalanche broke 500' wide, and ranged in depth from 18" or 6'. Photo: P. Hess

     

  • Recent avalanches in Beehive, and Middle Basin, 2

    From obs: "On a tour up Middle Peak, I saw recent avalanches, with large propagation in Middle Basin and Beehive Basin." Photo Anonymous 

  • Recent avalanches in Beehive, and Middle Basin

    From obs: "On a tour up Middle Peak, I saw recent avalanches, with large propagation in Middle Basin and Beehive Basin." Photo Anonymous 

  • Rider remote triggered slide

    From IG: "Buck ridge south of slatts hill, remote trigger by a snowmobile today"

  • Natural Avalanche in Beehive Basin

    Skiers in Beehive Basin saw a natural avalanche on an east-facing slope. This avalanche likely happened in the last 24-48 hours. Photo: E. Heiman

  • Windslab avalanche in bear basin

    Skiers intentionally triggered a small avalanche near the prayer flags in Bear Basin. This slope has avalanched previously this season. Photo: J Alford

  • First and Second Avalanches in McAtee, 2

    Riders triggered this pair of avalanches while crossing below this terrain, roughly 150 yards away. The location of the triggers is marked by the "x's" in the photo. Photo: M. Rolfson 

  • First and Second Avalanches in McAtee, 1

    Riders triggered this pair of avalanches while crossing below this terrain, roughly 150 yards away. Photo: M. Rolfson 

  • Second Avalanche in McAtee Basin

    Rider on 02/23/2024 observed this large avalanche next to another avalanche they had triggered remotely. They likely triggered this one as well from afar while cross terrain below. Photo: M. Rolfson

  • Avalanche McAtee Basin, 2

    Riders on 02/23/2024 triggered this avalanche from 150 yards away while traversing below. Photo: M. Rolfson

  • Avalanche McAtee Basin, 1

    Riders on 02/23/2024 triggered this avalanche from 150 yards away while traversing below. Photo: M. Rolfson

     

  • Avalanche crown in Muddy Creek

    On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • Avalanche crown in Muddy Creek 2

    On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • Debris from a couple slides in Muddy Creek

    On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • Debris in Muddy Creek close up

    On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • Natural avalanche near Buck

    On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • Natural avalanche near Buck 2

    On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • Fresh avalanche near Cedar, Feb 18

    An avalanche we either triggered from 750-800 feet away or it broke naturally. This avalanche happened when we were riding near the larger of the two avalanches from yesterday, on the south side of Cedar Mtn. It was a wind-loaded slope, actively loading. The avalanche was ~130' wide with 100' of 4-12" deep new snow/wind slab and 30' wide broke almost 3 feet deep on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

  • Fresh avalanche near Cedar, Feb 18 pic 2

    An avalanche we either triggered from 750-800 feet away or it broke naturally. This avalanche happened when we were riding near the larger of the two avalanches from yesterday, on the south side of Cedar Mtn. It was a wind-loaded slope, actively loading. The avalanche was ~130' wide with 100' of 4-12" deep new snow/wind slab and 30' wide broke almost 3 feet deep on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

  • Debris from deeper part of slide, Cedar, Feb 18

    An avalanche we either triggered from 750-800 feet away or it broke naturally. This avalanche happened when we were riding near the larger of the two avalanches from yesterday, on the south side of Cedar Mtn. It was a wind-loaded slope, actively loading. The avalanche was ~130' wide with 100' of 4-12" deep new snow/wind slab and 30' wide broke almost 3 feet deep on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

  • Debris from deeper part of slide, Cedar, Feb 18 2

    An avalanche we either triggered from 750-800 feet away or it broke naturally. This avalanche happened when we were riding near the larger of the two avalanches from yesterday, on the south side of Cedar Mtn. It was a wind-loaded slope, actively loading. The avalanche was ~130' wide with 100' of 4-12" deep new snow/wind slab and 30' wide broke almost 3 feet deep on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

  • Fresh avalanche near Cedar, Feb 18 pic 3

    An avalanche we either triggered from 750-800 feet away or it broke naturally. This avalanche happened when we were riding near the larger of the two avalanches from yesterday, on the south side of Cedar Mtn. It was a wind-loaded slope, actively loading. The avalanche was ~130' wide with 100' of 4-12" deep new snow/wind slab and 30' wide broke almost 3 feet deep on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

  • Wilderness boundary avalanche Feb 17, pic from 2/18

    This avalanche was triggered by riders from flat terrain far below on February 17. Photo: GNFAC

  • Debris of avalanche in The Mullet

    From BSSP on 2/17/24: "Midafternoon we received another report of a skier triggered avalanche in the Lone Lake Circe, specifically The Mullet. The reporting party contacted several ski patrollers via cell phone and confirmed that nobody was injured or had taken the full ride. This avalanche failed near the ground on a high elevation NW facing slope with the weight of a single skier with an estimated size of HS-ASu-R3-D2.5-O."

  • Crown of avalanche in The Mullet

    From BSSP on 2/17/24: "Midafternoon we received another report of a skier triggered avalanche in the Lone Lake Circe, specifically The Mullet. The reporting party contacted several ski patrollers via cell phone and confirmed that nobody was injured or had taken the full ride. This avalanche failed near the ground on a high elevation NW facing slope with the weight of a single skier with an estimated size of HS-ASu-R3-D2.5-O."

  • Wilderness Boundary Avalanche

    Riders triggered this avalanche remotely on 02/17/2024 while riding near the Bear Creek wilderness boundary. Photo: Anonymous 

Videos- Northern Madison

WebCams


8800' Camera, Lone Peak view

Yellowstone Club, Timberline Chair

Snowpit Profiles- Northern Madison

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Stations- Northern Madison

Big Sky

Yellowstone Club

Weather Forecast Northern Madison

Full Forecast, NOAA website
Extended Forecast for

5 Miles NNW Big Sky MT

Winter Storm Warning April 16, 06:00pm until April 17, 06:00pmClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Storm Warning

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. North northwest wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

    Partly Cloudy

    Low: 23 °F

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Snow likely, mainly after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a west wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    Mostly Sunny
    then Snow
    Likely and
    Breezy

    High: 37 °F

  • Tuesday
    Night

    Tuesday Night: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Patchy blowing snow between 1am and 3am. Low around 14. Wind chill values as low as zero. West wind 13 to 18 mph becoming north in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.

    Heavy Snow
    and Patchy
    Blowing Snow

    Low: 14 °F

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Snow. High near 20. North northwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

    Snow

    High: 20 °F

  • Wednesday
    Night

    Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8. North northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    Chance Snow
    then Mostly
    Cloudy

    Low: 8 °F

  • Thursday

    Thursday: A 40 percent chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Chance Snow

    High: 23 °F

  • Thursday
    Night

    Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8. North wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

    Slight Chance
    Snow then
    Mostly Cloudy

    Low: 8 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: A slight chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 24. North wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

    Slight Chance
    Snow

    High: 24 °F

  • Friday
    Night

    Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 7.

    Partly Cloudy

    Low: 7 °F

The Last Word

We began our daily forecasts on December 7. 130 daily forecasts and 464 reported avalanches later, we wrapped up our daily forecasting season on April 14th. While avalanches remain a concern until the snow is in the rivers, read our SEASON SUMMARY to look back at the heart of the 2023-24 avalanche year.

Additionally, please join us in congratulating Doug Chabot on his retirement from the GNFAC after 29 years of forecasting and 25 years as the center’s director. Thank you for everything, Doug!

04 / 14 / 24  <<  
 
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