Good morning. This is Mark Staples with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Advisory issued on Friday, March 13, at 7:30 a.m. Buck Products and Northern Lights Trading Company sponsor today’s advisory. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas.
Clear skies overnight helped temperatures drop into the mid to upper 20s F this morning. Winds were blowing 5-10 mph from directions all around the compass. The Bridger Range had stronger winds blowing 10-25 mph. Today will have sunshine, light winds and warm temperatures. Temperatures will climb into the 40s F with winds of 5-10 mph that should shift to the S. This weekend should have more sun on Saturday and a good chance of precipitation coming Sunday.
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead Area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Clear skies overnight helped the snowpack freeze making both dry snow and wet snow avalanches unlikely this morning. A few wet, point releases occurred yesterday when the sun appeared. Today with calm winds and strong sunshine there will be more loose, wet snow avalanches. As the day progresses the likelihood of wet snow avalanches will increase but they shouldn’t be very dangerous. They should be predictable in both where and when they occur; mostly on southerly aspects as the snow surface becomes wet. Today the danger of dry snow avalanches will be LOW and the danger of wet snow avalanches will rise to MODERATE.
Eric 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.