Trip Planning for Southern Gallatin

as of 5:00 am
Today0″ | 10-25 N
Mar 17 0″ | 5-15 NE
Mar 16 0″ | 5-10 NE
9460′     03/18 at 21:00
34.6℉
W - 7mph
Gusts 15 mph
9000′     03/18 at 22:00
32℉
66″ Depth
Primary Problem: Persistent Weak Layer
Bottom Line: Large avalanches breaking deep in the snowpack on persistent weak layers and wet, loose snow avalanches are possible in the mountains across the advisory area. Lower-angle avalanche terrain and slopes with clean runouts and without terrain traps are the best options if you choose to play the odds. Follow safe travel practices, including traveling one at a time while a partner remains in position for rescue. Get off any steep terrain before the surface snow gets wet in more than the upper few inches. This process will happen faster in lower elevations so ensure safe egress options.

Past 5 Days

Thu Mar 14

Considerable
Fri Mar 15

Considerable
Sat Mar 16

Considerable
Sun Mar 17

Considerable
Today

Moderate

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 17
  • Skiers a few days ago saw several deep natural avalanches near the head of Swan Creek. These avalanches broke 2-5' deep, 2000' wide, and ran "full track". The exact date of when these avalanches happened is unknown but they likely happened over a week ago in the first few days of March. Photo: S. Reinsel

  • Skiers a few days ago saw several deep natural avalanches near the head of Swan Creek. These avalanches broke 2-5' deep, 2000' wide, and ran "full track". The exact date of when these avalanches happened is unknown but they likely happened over a week ago in the first few days of March. Photo: S. Reinsel

     

     

  • Riders saw a large crack in the snow near the Cabin Creek Cabin in the S. Madison Range. This is a red flag for unstable conditions. Anonymous

     

  • Do you like to hike? Do you like to ski? Then the King & Queen of the Ridge is for you. Hike, ski and raise money for the Friends of the Avalanche Center in their 2nd biggest fundraiser of the year. Join the effort to promote and support avalanche safety and awareness! Fundraising prizes for top 5 individuals who raise over $500. No racing is necessary to compete for the fundraising prizes. Info to fundraise is HERE or donate here. Race participants for the [insert dates] event must register separately with Bridger Bowl here.

  • Photo and observation from 01/20

    From obs: "Large roller balls were observed in avalanche terrain on a SE aspect at 8,300'. Alongside this observation, rather wet, sticky snow was observed throughout the tour, causing multiple glopping incidents on our skins." Photo: E. Webb

     

  • Skiers on 01/20 saw a natural avalanche that happened the day before on 01/19. Photo: E. Webb

  • From observations on 01/20:

    Shooting cracks above a cornice that created a small avalanche. Photo: D. Halama

  • From observation on 01/20:

    While approaching a cornice skiers collapsed the slope and triggered a small cornice. Photo: E. Webb

  • A small avalanche was seen in Black Bear Canyon on 01/14. This was a recent avalanche that happened today or yesterday 01/13. 

  • Cracking at Fawn Pass this was accompanied by multiple collapses during the tour. Photo: S. Reinsel

  • Large surface near Little Bear. Photo: JR Mooney

  • From IG on 12/10: "2 slides we triggered remotely in tepee yesterday"

  • From obs: "Dug into the hillside right before going up the creek. Snow pack was 75 cm deep consisting of three layers. Bottom 35cm is obviously faceted, grain size is around 2mm. Very thin ice crust at around 35cm. Upper 35 cm of snow is brand new snow from this current storm, precipitation particles, low density, with minor wind effect. Performed a quick Compression Test and the ice crust layer failed on the second tap." Photo: S. Gralla

  • From IG: “Pine creek today, some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

  • From IG: “Pine creek today (10/21), some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

  • From obs. "Was out alpine climbing today and observed the north face of Blackmore had slid already."

  • Get your tickets and online bid for items HERE!

Videos- Southern Gallatin

WebCams


Electric Peak

Roosevelt Arch

Snowpit Profiles- Southern Gallatin

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Stations- Southern Gallatin

Weather Forecast Southern Gallatin

Extended Forecast for

17 Miles SE Big Sky MT

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

    Mostly Clear

    Low: 28 °F

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. South southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.

    Sunny

    High: 52 °F

  • Tuesday
    Night

    Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south southeast in the evening.

    Partly Cloudy

    Low: 29 °F

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. South wind 6 to 13 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

    Mostly Sunny

    High: 48 °F

  • Wednesday
    Night

    Wednesday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 8pm, then a chance of snow showers.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 30%.

    Slight Chance
    Rain/Snow
    then Chance
    Snow Showers

    Low: 31 °F

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Snow showers likely, mainly after noon.  Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Breezy, with a west wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%.

    Snow Showers
    Likely and
    Breezy

    High: 42 °F

  • Thursday
    Night

    Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

    Chance Snow
    Showers and
    Breezy

    Low: 28 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after noon.  Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Breezy.

    Chance Snow
    Showers and
    Breezy

    High: 42 °F

  • Friday
    Night

    Friday Night: Snow showers likely, mainly before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Breezy.  Chance of precipitation is 60%.

    Snow Showers
    Likely and
    Breezy

    Low: 28 °F

The Last Word

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the Avalanche Research Program at Simon Fraser University and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research are conducting research to examine how backcountry recreationists, including skiers, mountain snowmobilers, snowshoers and ice climbers, interpret avalanche forecast information. They aim to better understand how useful different kinds of avalanche forecast information are for trip planning. To participate, take the Colorado Avalanche Information Center survey.

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