This is Ian Hoyer with the avalanche forecast for Friday, January 31st, at 7:00 a.m. sponsored by Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue and Highline Partners. This forecast does not apply to operating ski areas.
This morning, mountain temperatures are generally in the teens and 20s F. Winds are mostly 15-25 mph out of the west with gusts of 30-45 mph, but a bit lighter around Cooke City.
Today will be a transition day between the warm sunny weather we’ve been enjoying for the last week and the storms that are coming. It’ll be cloudy, but with only a little snow. Snow showers beginning this afternoon in the southern part of the advisory area may add up to 1-2” by nightfall. Winds remain breezy, shifting more southerly today.
Snowfall will pick up overnight, still favoring the southern areas. By tomorrow morning, expect:
5-10” near Island Park
3-6” near West Yellowstone and Cooke City
1-2” around Bozeman and Big Sky.
Snowfall will continue through the weekend and into next week.
All Regions
Avalanche conditions are generally safe today. Still, there are some things to watch out for.
The first thing to watch out for is old wind drifts. Mostly these will be well bonded after a week of warm temperatures, but be alert in case you find someplace where they aren’t. A report yesterday of a recent Wind Slab avalanche on Woodward Mtn. that broke 1-2 ft deep and 250 ft wide shows that we can’t totally write off the possibility of triggering one of these slides (observation).
Wet snow concerns will be minimal today with generally a good refreeze overnight and clouds keeping melting in check today. But, there are places where the air temperatures stayed above freezing overnight so watch out for Wet Loose avalanches if you find a snowpack that hasn’t entirely refrozen (photo of Wet Looses yesterday).
Snowfall will begin this afternoon. We don’t expect much to accumulate before nightfall, but if it comes in early and heavier than expected - watch out for newly forming drifts. The new snow will fall onto a variety of old snow surfaces, including some very weak snow, so even thin drifts may be quite reactive (Beehive video).
With snow and strong winds expected through the weekend and into next week, expect the avalanche danger to rise. The more it snows and blows, the more rapidly the danger will rise.
For today, the avalanche 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.
***You must register by TODAY AT NOON 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 6, 6-8 p.m. & February 8, 10 a.m - 2 p.m. Companion Rescue Clinic. Evening lecture at REI in Bozeman. Field session at History Rock. Details and signup here.
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.