GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Feb 2, 2025

Not the Current Forecast

This is Alex Marienthal with the avalanche forecast for Sunday, February 2nd, at 7:00 a.m. Today’s forecast is sponsored by Bridger Bowl and The Participants of King and Queen of the Ridge. This forecast does not apply to operating ski areas.

King and Queen top Fundraisers!

Thank you to all who participated and raised funds for The Friends of the GNFAC, and a special shoutout to our top fundraising individuals and teams, many of them show up to raise thousands of dollars year after year! Dash Rodman ($4470), Matt Sebren ($3915), Ron June ($3220), Matt Pellmann ($1887), and Doug Child ($1110). Teams: Cooke City Exxon ($13056), Science Saves Lives ($4659), The Mountain Project ($3906), MAP Brewing ($1695), and BSF Skimo ($965) (more event details below).

Mountain Weather

New snow totals this morning are: 

  • 4-6” near Cooke City, Island Park, West Yellowstone
  • 3-5” in Big Sky, 
  • 2” in Hyalite and Taylor Fork, 
  • A trace to an inch in the Bridger Range.

Wind has been moderate to strong, out of the southwest and west at 15-25 mph with gusts of 25-45 mph. Temperatures are teens to mid-20s F.

Today temperatures will reach mid-20s F. In the north half of our area wind will be out of the west and southwest at 5-10 mph with gusts to 25 mph, and near Cooke City, West Yellowstone and Island Park wind will be 15-25 mph with gusts to 40 mph. 

Heavy snowfall is expected later this morning near Cooke City and Island Park, and elsewhere snow will start later in the day. By morning the mountains near Bozeman, Big Sky and West Yellowstone could have 6-10”, and near Cooke City and Island Park 12-16” are possible. Steady snowfall is expected through Tuesday, and possibly longer through the week.

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

New snow is being drifted into slabs that are easy for a person to trigger today. On wind-loaded slopes wind slab avalanches could break 1-3 feet deep. On slopes without fresh drifts, avalanches breaking within or below the new snow are possible and could be large enough to bury a person. Since Friday, snow totals are 8-16” equal to 1.0” of snow water equivalent (SWE), and on many slopes this snow fell on weak, sugary facets or surface hoar which could cause slabs to break easily and propagate wide (observation). Snowfall is expected to be heavy today with continued moderate to strong wind, so expect the danger to rise as the likelihood and size of potential avalanches increases through the day. Human triggered avalanches are likely and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE near Cooke City, West Yellowstone and Island Park.

Near Big Sky, Hyalite and Taylor Fork got 4-9” of snow since Friday and today’s snowfall will start later this afternoon. The recent snow was drifted into stiffer slabs that are possible for people to trigger on steep slopes, and these wind slabs will grow larger with more snow later today. Fresh wind slabs were reported yesterday on Buck Ridge (observation) and Friday before it started snowing on Mt. Blackmore (observation). Expect slabs to be deeper and wider today.

Weak snow has been reported on the old snow surface across the area (observation, observation) which could make fresh slabs more unstable. Cracks shooting out from your skis or sled are a sign that fresh drifts are unstable. Avalanches are possible and danger is MODERATE in the Madison and Gallatin Ranges.

An inch or two of new snow in the Bridger Range will not create much hazard and avalanches remain unlikely for today. There might be some isolated thin drifts from recent wind, and some small fresh drifts could form later today when snow starts. Watch out for these wind slabs in terrain where a small slide could have large consequences, such as above cliffs or rocks. 

If snow starts earlier, or if there is more wind or more snow falls than expected, watch for and avoid larger fresh drifts and consider the potential for dry loose avalanches on long sustained steep slopes. Avalanche conditions are generally safe and the avalanche danger is LOW.

KING AND QUEEN OF THE RIDGE, Continued

We closed out King and Queen of the Ridge with nearly $30,000 raised! We will post final numbers here after we confirm totals. Thank you to all who participated and raised funds for The Friends of the GNFAC.

Thank you to the Bridger Bowl Events team for all their work, Weston Boards, Bozeman Hot Springs and Blue Ice for donating prizes!

The King and Queen were Drake Fricke with 29 hikes and Jennifer Pierce with 24 hikes. Full Event Results.

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.

The Last Word

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.

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