Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

as of 5:00 am
Mar 180″ | 10-25 N
Mar 17 0″ | 5-18 NE
Mar 16 0″ | 5-20 E
10020′     03/19 at 4:00
24.8℉
N - 10mph
Gusts 14 mph
9100′     03/19 at 03:00
23℉
69″ 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
Mon Mar 18

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Cooke City
Woody Ridge
Natural Wet Snow Avalanche Triggers Dry Slab Avalanche Woody R.
Incident details include images
Woody Ridge
SS-NL-R2-D2-O
Elevation: 9,500
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 44.9997, -109.9160
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From Obs: “We were skinning in the valley to the East of Woody Ridge near the North end and observed a wet slide occur naturally due to a point release, moving about 500 ft downslope. While that was occurring it remotely triggered a dry slab avalanche approx. 50-100 ft adjacent on the same slope and elevation. The crown appeared to be 3 ft deep, possibly thicker, but we were viewing from afar so hard to tell. 9500 ft elevation, East aspect. 12:02 PM March 17, 2024. Air temp approx. 30F clear skies all day.”


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Wet Snow Avalanches, Cooke City
Incident details include images
Incident details contain video
COOKE CITY
WL-N-R1-D1.5
Aspect: SW
Coordinates: 45.0202, -109.9380
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

There were two loose, wet snow avalanches that we saw that had a bit of volume to them today. One on the south side of Crown Butte and the other on the southwest side of Scotch Bonnet


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
Daisy Pass
Avalanches in Miller crk
Incident details include images
Daisy Pass
HS-R4-D2-O
Elevation: 8,700
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.0320, -109.9350
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

On 3/10/24 Low on Daisy Road along the steep creek walls we saw three recent 2' deep avalanches. each 70-100' wide. HS-R4-D2-O. One looked within the last day or two and the other two were maybe 3-4 days old. Triggers unknown, there were various ages of sled/snowbike tracks nearby.


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • On the east side of Woody Ridge, skiers watched a wet, loose snow avalanche trigger a dry slab avalanche on March 17. photo: N Iltis

  • On the east side of Woody Ridge, skiers watched a wet, loose snow avalanche trigger a dry slab avalanche on March 17. photo: N Iltis

  • We saw no new deep slab avalanches in Cooke City since Alex was there last week. Unfortunately, if you triggered one, it would be no less deadly. This was a large deep slab avalanche on Sheep Mountain. Photo: GNFAC

  • Wet loose snow avalanche Astral Lake. Photo: GNFAC

  • A wet loose snow avalanche on Crown Butte. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 3/10/24 Between Miller and Wolverine there was a recent large avalanche that I would guess was triggered yesterday. 3-6' deep, 250-300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 3/10/24 Low on Daisy Road along the steep creek walls we saw three recent 2' deep avalanches. each 70-100' wide. HS-R4-D2-O. This one looked within the last day or two and the other two were maybe 3-4 days old. Triggers unknown, there were various ages of sled/snowbike tracks nearby. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 3/10/24 Low on Daisy Road along the steep creek walls we saw three recent 2'+ deep avalanches. each 70-100' wide. HS-R4-D2-O. This one maybe 3-4 days old. Triggers unknown, there were various ages of sled/snowbike tracks nearby. Photo: GNFAC

  • A natural avalanche was witnessed on the north side of Republic Mtn. on 3/9 at 4:54pm. It appeared to break around 3 feet deep. Photo: screenshot from IG, M. Simone

  • A natural avalanche was witnessed on the north side of Republic Mtn. on 3/9 at 4:54pm. It appeared to break around 3 feet deep. Photo: screenshot from IG, M. Simone

  • E aspect, 9100' Photo: B. Fredlund 

     

  • N aspect, 9600' Photo: B. Fredlund

     

  • E aspect, 8800' Photo: B. Fredlund 

     

  • SE aspect, 8800' Photo: B. Fredlund 

     

  • Skiers saw a natural avalanche that likely happened late last week in Pilot Creek. The avalanche ran 1000 feet on a SE facing slope. Photo: J. Mundt

  • A natural avalanche in Woody Creek, right by the waterfall. D2, crown was up to 5 feet deep. NE facing. Photo: J. Mundt

  • E aspect, 9100'. Photo: B. Fredlund

     

     

  • E aspect, 8800'.  Photo: B. Fredlund

     

  • SE aspect, 9000'. Photo: B. Fredlund

     

     

  • NE aspect, 9300' Photo: B. Fredlund

     

  • E aspect, 8900'. Photo: B. Fredlund

     

  • On 3/9/24 there was a big avalanche on the northeast side of Sheep that was previously not reported. It was there this morning so maybe happened yesterday. 6-8'+ deep, 500' wide R4-D3-O. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 3/9/24 there was a big avalanche on the northeast side of Sheep that was previously not reported. It was there this morning so maybe happened yesterday. 6-8'+ deep, 500' wide R4-D3-O. Photo: GNFAC

  • This morning (3/9/24) we saw previous avalanches on Henderson Mtn. in better light and got a photo of one on the lower Henderson Bench. Showing wide propagation through thick trees. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 03/08/2024 we observed widespread avalanches along Henderson Bench as well, below the steep break over in the trees, 3'+ deep breaking across multiple terrain features through thick trees, most of the bench slid, and appeared to have happened last weekend. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • On my drive to Cooke City I saw old slab avalanches in YNP near Mammoth and on Abiathar and Ampitheater among other places. These appeared to have happened earlier in the week. I also saw a more fresh looking persistent slab avalanche on Barronette, 2-3' deep and as wide as its terrain feature, 100-200' Photo: GNFAC

  • We saw one small but deep slab on the north side of Scotch Bonnet on 03/08/2024 that likely happened today or late yesterday. 6' deep x 30' wide, R1-D1.5. Photo: GNFAC

  • A recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • The crown of a recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet that happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • The crown of a recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet that happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • The debris from a recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet that happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • We observed another fresh slide in the Rastas (one that didn't slide last weekend) that looked fresh yesterday or today, 4' deep hard slab, R3-D2-O. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • Riders saw a recent avalanche on the west side of Scotch Bonnet in the Rasta Chute. It likely happened sometime today (03/08) or yesterday. Photo: J. Mundt

  • Skiers on 03/07/2024 observed several avalanches in the north-facing bowl below Republic Mountain. These avalanches likely happened the day before on 03/06/2024. Photo: J. Keogh

     

  • Skiers on 03/07/2024 observed several avalanches in the north-facing bowl below Republic Mountain. These avalanches likely happened the day before on 03/06/2024. Photo: J. Keogh

     

Videos- Cooke City Area

WebCams


Soda Butte Lodge, looking West

Soda Butte Lodge, looking East

Snowpit Profiles- Cooke City Area

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Cooke City Area

Extended Forecast for

2 Miles NNE Cooke City MT

  • Today

    Today: Sunny, with a high near 45. West northwest wind around 8 mph.

    Sunny

    High: 45 °F

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind 7 to 9 mph.

    Partly Cloudy

    Low: 25 °F

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of snow after noon.  Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. West wind 7 to 16 mph.

    Mostly Sunny
    then Slight
    Chance Snow

    High: 42 °F

  • Wednesday
    Night

    Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. West southwest wind 15 to 20 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    Low: 28 °F

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Snow.  High near 35. West wind 21 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around 3 inches.

    Snow

    High: 35 °F

  • Thursday
    Night

    Thursday Night: Snow, mainly before midnight.  Low around 21. West wind 21 to 26 mph decreasing to 14 to 19 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    Snow then
    Chance Snow

    Low: 21 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: Snow likely, mainly after noon.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. West southwest wind 11 to 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    Snow Likely

    High: 34 °F

  • Friday
    Night

    Friday Night: Snow likely.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Southwest wind 13 to 20 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%.

    Snow Likely

    Low: 24 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Snow.  High near 35. Southwest wind 11 to 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 100%.

    Snow Likely
    then Snow

    High: 35 °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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