GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Sun Mar 29, 2015
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Yesterday's fast moving storm system brought much more wind than snow. It also helped bring cooler temperatures to the area. Timber weather station at the Yellowstone Club recorded a nine degree temperature drop from noon to 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon. This rapid drop was associated with the frontal passage, which also deposited light snow in most locations.
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Mar 28, 2015
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Snow conditions in the backcountry will be far from ideal today. During the morning hours, a thin and breakable ice crust may exist at on mid and upper elevation slopes. This would eliminate the potential for wet snow avalanches during the early part of the day. If a surface crust does not exist (due to above freezing temperatures overnight) wet snow avalanches will be a greater concern this morning.
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Mar 27, 2015
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Expect to see loose, wet snow avalanches on all aspects. With very warm temperatures and strong sunshine, the new snow will become wet and slide on an ice crust about a foot deep. Because air temperatures were already near freezing this morning and skies were relatively warm despite being clear, wet snow avalanche activity could start fairly early today.
Skiers at the Yellowstone Club spotted this natural avalanche on a S aspect on Wednesday, March 25. This slide tells us that some wet slab avalanches will be possible on Friday as the snow becomes wet. Photo: H. Sonen
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Mar 27, 2015
Pinwheels and rollerballs of snow indicate the snow surface is getting wet and loosing strength. As more of these start rollling downhill the danger of wet snow avalanches increases. Photo: GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Mar 27, 2015
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Thu Mar 26, 2015
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Monday and Tuesday delivered the biggest storm since February 21 with about a foot of new snow that fell on an ice crust on most slopes except N facing ones. If heading out today, the only question to ask is: How well is the new snow bonding to the old snow surface? Answer this question by testing small slopes and performing quick stability tests.
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Wed Mar 25, 2015
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
This was our biggest snowstorm since February 21st:
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Tue Mar 24, 2015
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
It’s pretty simple: new snow and wind-loading are creating today’s avalanche danger.
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Mon Mar 23, 2015
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead Area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Sun Mar 22, 2015
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead Area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Temperatures dropped well below freezing last night which will eliminate the potential for wet snow avalanches during the morning hours. If the sun appears for an extended period of time and temps warm into the upper 30s F, wet snow avalanches will become possible later in the day. This problem will be most prevalent on south facing slopes.