Good morning. This is Mark Staples with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Advisory issued on Thursday, April 2, at 7:30 a.m. The Yellowstone Club Community Foundation in partnership with the Friends of the Avalanche Center sponsors today’s advisory. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas.
Winter came back but only delivered a trace to one inch of snow yesterday afternoon. This morning mountain temperatures were near 10 degrees F and winds were blowing 10-20 mph from the NW. Today should have clouds, a little sun, and a little snow with temperatures in the high teens to low 20s F. Winds should decrease a little today. We should only get about an inch of snow by tomorrow morning.
Bridger Range Gallatin Range Madison Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Snow from yesterday and late Tuesday night is the only avalanche problem today. Winds from the W and N likely formed shallow wind slabs. Snowfall Tuesday night ranged from a trace to 5 inches, and snowfall yesterday was a trace to 1 inch. It’s sad when we’re counting snow in such small increments. Wind slabs should be less than a foot thick, just under ridgelines, and not extend very far downhill. Otherwise, the snowpack is frozen solid with no other concerns.
Aside from wind slabs on isolated terrain features, avalanche conditions are generally safe and the avalanche danger is LOW.
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.