This is Mark Staples with the avalanche forecast on Thursday, April 3rd, at 7:00 a.m. sponsored by Spark R&D and World Boards. This forecast does not apply to operating ski areas.
Yesterday most places received 1-3 inches of snow, and overnight a trace of snow fell near Big Sky and Bozeman. Exceptions include:
- The Taylor Fork area where the Carrot Bason SNOTEL received 7 inches.
- Just south West Yellowstone where the Madison Plateau SNOTEL received zero.
- Near Cooke City, the Fisher Creek SNOTEL received 5 inches.
This morning, temperatures are in the low to mid teens F in most areas and low 20s F in the Bridgers. Winds are barely moving.
Today will have classic spring weather with a spot or two of sunshine peeking through the clouds this morning warming temperatures into the 20s F, closer to 30 degrees in the Bridgers. Cold air and moisture will descend from the north again. This afternoon winds will become a little gusty as more clouds arrive and snow falls. Overall another 1-3 inches should accumulate, but mostly north of West Yellowstone. A few places could see 5-6 inches of snow and a couple cracks of thunder.
Two more things: (1) A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the Absaroka/Beartooth mountains today where there could be very heavy snowfall (8-16 inches) mostly on the north slope, and it shouldn’t make it to Cooke City. (2) Looking ahead, the sun comes out Friday and really gets cranking with very warm temps and strong sunshine this weekend…get ready for wet snow.
The Bridger Range received the most snow totaling about 20 inches, and yesterday the Bridger Bowl Ski Patrol was still able to trigger some soft slab avalanches 12-16 inches deep in pockets, but generally the new snow had begun stabilizing.
Winds have been minimal, but places near the ridge under cornices that received some drifting will still be the most likely places to trigger a soft wind slab. The odds of triggering a storm slab avalanche on a slope without any drifting have gone down a lot, but there will still be decent sluffing in the steepest terrain.
I’d feel comfortable getting into steep terrain today, but I’d avoid spots where winds previously drifted snow, and I’d choose slopes with a runout free of rocks or trees in case I triggered a small pocket of storm snow. Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE.
Avalanche conditions are generally safe with minimal wind limiting wind slab formation, and cool temperatures and clouds today preventing wet snow problems. Ian and Dave found stable snow yesterday along Buck Ridge just south of Big Sky.
Two avalanches yesterday are great examples of what to look for today. A group in Beehive Basin just north of Big Sky found stable snow in steep terrain except for one pocket in a couloir where winds had stiffened the new snow. They triggered but were not caught in a soft slab avalanche about 6 inches deep and 60 feet wide. Another group near Cooke City triggered a soft wind slab 6-10 inches deep and 40 feet wide.
Be on the lookout for isolated places where winds have drifted snow and where you could trigger a soft wind slab. Be especially cautious in terrain where simply falling could be dangerous. A tragic accident ten years ago in April on Beehive Peak is worth reading about and learning from. Today the avalanche danger is LOW.
Hyalite Road Closure
The Hyalite Canyon Road is closed to ALL MOTORIZED VEHICLES until the morning of May 16. This is a regular annual road closure to reduce road damage during the spring thaw. Bicycle and foot traffic are allowed. Contact the Bozeman FS Ranger District for more info.