Good morning. This is Eric Knoff with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Advisory issued on Monday, April 1 at 7:30 a.m. Montana Ale Works in partnership with the Friends of the Avalanche Center sponsors today’s advisory. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas.
Wow – Spring is unpredictable! Last night a surprise storm dropped 2-3 feet of heavy dense snow over the mountains of southwest Montana. It looks like another 1-2 feet will fall over the next few days. The storm riding should be absolutely amazing! April Fools.
Actually - temperatures will be around 10 degrees above average today and conditions will be mostly dry. This morning, the mercury is sitting in the upper 20s F under clear skies and winds are calm. Today, temperatures will warm into the mid-40s F under partly cloudy skies and winds will stay light out of the west. There is a chance for an afternoon shower in the mountains around Big Sky, West Yellowstone and Cooke City. There is also potential for lightning this afternoon as the atmosphere grows increasingly unstable.
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Clear skies and below freezing temperatures last night will keep the snowpack locked up and frozen this morning. With the snowpack resembling well cured concrete, there will be minimal avalanche hazard. The one exception will be high, north facing slopes where dry powdery snow can still be found. Fortunately, stability is good on these slopes.
As the day heats up, the snow surface will become increasingly wet, unconsolidated and unstable. Sinking in past your boot tops in wet, soft snow is a good clue it’s time to move to shadier aspects. Also, signs of instability such as roller balls and small point releases are bull’s eye data the snow surface is becoming unstable (photo).
The bottom line: get off and out from underneath steeper sunny slopes before they turn into a gravity influenced slushy that can pack a serious punch.
Cornices: Warming temperatures are gradually destabilizing these massive chunks of snow. Steering clear of these beasts both above and below ridgelines will be a good way to practice self-preservation.
Today, the avalanche hazard will start out LOW, but will rise to MODERATE by this afternoon.
Mark will issue the next advisory tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. If you have any snowpack or avalanche observations drop us a line at mtavalanche@gmail.com or call us at 587-6984.
Take Note:
Our 136th and last avalanche advisory will be on Sunday, April 7th.