Good morning. This is Mark Staples with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Advisory issued on Friday, April 3, at 7:30 a.m. Javaman and Buck Products sponsor today’s advisory. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas.
Most areas got about one inch of snow yesterday. This morning temperatures were in the teens F with 10-15 mph westerly winds. A brief ridge will bring mostly sunny skies today before an unsettled weather pattern with moisture and cold temperatures arrives this weekend. Today high temperatures will be near freezing and winds will blow 5-15 mph from the W.
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Today the only avalanche problems will involve the new snow from early this week and yesterday sitting on top of a hard ice crust. Near Bozeman and Big Sky there is about 4-5 inches of snow on top of this crust. Further south near West Yellowstone there is only about an inch. Watch for some small wind slabs, and later this afternoon on southerly aspects watch for shallow, wet loose avalanches. Yesterday just south of Bridger Bowl, Eric and his partner found a good bond between the new snow and the ice crust but had similar concerns of isolated wind slabs and shallow wet avalanches today (video, photo).
With generally safe avalanche conditions the avalanche danger is rated LOW, but there should be a few shallow, wet loose avalanches as the day warms under sunny skies.
I 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.
RECALL OF ORTOVOX S1+ AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS
All necessary information about the recall can be found at: www.ortovox.com/recall-s1plus.
The last advisory of the season will be Sunday, April 12.