Regional Conditions for Centennial Range

This graph shows snow water equivalent (SWE) by date at the primary SNOTEL sites that we use in the GNFAC region. From October 1st, 2018 to January 12th, 2019. Steeper lines indicate bigger storms and flatter lines indicate periods of little to no snow. A large storm at the beginning of Novermber laid down a 1-3 foot base. Relatively dry and cold weather through November caused much of that snow to become weak. This weak snow was buried by a series of storms. Avalanches were seen during and following many of these storms. During dry weather between storms, more weak layers formed on the surface of the snowpack and were subsequently buried. (Graph created by GNFAC from NRCS provisional data).

A snowmobile triggered avalanche that broke during the last week's avalanche cycle at Lionhead. Multiple (5+) Natural and snowmobile triggered slides were reported between 1/7 and 1/9. On 1/6-1/7 the area got a foot of heavy snow followed by strong winds. This loaded an unstable snowpack that is poorly supported by 1.5' of sugary snow on the ground. Avalanches broke 2-3 feet deep on this weak snow, and propagated relatively wide. Photo: GNFAC

A snowmobile triggered avalanche that broke during the last week's avalanche cycle at Lionhead. Multiple (5+) Natural and snowmobile triggered slides were reported between 1/7 and 1/9. On 1/6-1/7 the area got a foot of heavy snow followed by strong winds. This loaded an unstable snowpack that is poorly supported by 1.5' of sugary snow on the ground. Avalanches broke 2-3 feet deep on this weak snow, and propagated relatively wide. Photo: GNFAC

A snowmobiler triggered a slide in Lionhead on Tuesday, January 8. Photo: D. Mintus

A sledder remote triggered several slides from the bottom of a south facing slope in the Centennial Range, Hell Roaring Creek. Photo: B. Marsh

A sledder remote triggered several slides from the bottom of a south facing slope in the Centennial Range, Hell Roaring Creek. Photo: B. Marsh

Avalanche triggered remotely by a snowmobiler near Lionhead Ridge on January 7, 2019. From email "24 inch crown and about 200 feet wide... on an easterly wind loaded slope"

A snowpit on Lionhead revealed two weak layers. One was under wind blown snow; the other was 1.5 feet above the ground on a thick layer of sugary facets. Photo: GNFAC

From e-mail: "This was a snowmobile triggered slide in a S aspect in the Blue Creek Drainage SE of Reas Peak in the Centennials.  No one was caught and no injuries as far as I can tell".

This avalanche in Airplane Bowl off Lionhead Ridge, is south facing at 9,000'. The avalanche was 1-2' deep, 100' vertical and 150' wide (estimated). It likely broke late Sunday or Monday (12/31), during or immediately after the Avalanche Warning. Weak, faceted snow could not support the weekends snowstorm and there were widespread slides. Photo: GNFAC

Collapsing and cracking in Watkins Creek in Lionhead. The snow is weak and collapses like this indicate instability. Photo: B. Rasmussen

Collapsing and cracking in Watkins Creek in Lionhead. The snow is weak and collapses like this indicate instability. Photo: B. Rasmussen

The snowpack at 9,000' above Hebgen Lake near West Yellowstone is 60-70cm (~2 feet) deep. It is mostly weak, sugary facets and will struggle to support the weight of future storms. Photo: GNFAC

From email: "7,500' West facing in the Hellroaring Drainage 12/22/18"

Photo: S. Hansen

A skier reported a recent slab avalanche at Ernest Miller in the southern Madison. This is a good reminder that as you move further south in our advisory area, we are seeing a thinner and generally less stable snowpack. Photo: C. Grote

The Lionhead area near West Yellowstone has the shallowest and weakest snowpack in our forecast region. The bottom half of the pack consists of weak, sugary facets. This well developed weak layer produced unstable results in stability tests on any slope that had wind drifted snow. With more snow and wind in the forecast, this area will experience increasingly unstable conditions. Photo GNFAC  

Yesterday at Lionhead Ridge near West Yellowstone we found a shallow and weak snowpack. A foot of weak, sugary snow on the ground will create unstable conditions where it is buried by thick drifts of snow, and when the area gets more snow later this week. Photo: GNFAC

Snow water equivalent at SNOTEL stations in the GNFAC advisory areas for the 18-19 season to date. Weak layers formed on the surface of the snowpack during the dry weather (flat section of lines), then they were buried by the recent 10-14" of snow (steep increase at end of graph). Image: GNFAC

From an email:

"By and large right side up snowpack. Some small facets below the 11/1 ice crust at the ground, but well bonded snowpack overall. Pit observations consistent with hand pits dug throughout the day touring north out of Bridger Bowl." Photo: M. Zia