Good Morning. This is Ian Hoyer with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Forecast on Thursday, April 8th at 7:00 a.m. Today’s forecast is sponsored by Summit Motorsports and Ski-Doo. This forecast does not apply to operating ski areas.
Bridger Bowl is closed and backcountry conditions exist. There is no avalanche mitigation or ski patrol rescue. Please stay clear of work areas, snowmobiles, chair lifts and other equipment. Watch Dave’s video for some post-season travel advice.
There is no new snow this morning. Mountain temperatures are in the high 20s to low 30s F. Winds are 10-20 mph with gusts to 40 mph from the southwest and west. A cold front will move through the area today, keeping temperatures from rising much and bringing some snow showers this afternoon. Moderate westerly winds will continue. Spotty snow showers will continue tonight. By tomorrow morning expect a highly variable trace to 4” across the advisory area.
All Regions
Large avalanches are unlikely today. The lower snowpack is mostly stable and the new snow that fell earlier in the week has now bonded to the old snow surface.
While temperatures are warm this morning, the cold front passing through today will generally keep the snow surface from softening more than a few inches deep. Any wet loose avalanches will be small and not much of an issue outside of very steep high consequence terrain. Still, be on alert if you do find yourself sinking deeper into wet snow. There may still be some low elevation slopes that have not solidly refrozen (low elevation wet snow video).
Snow showers this afternoon may drop a few inches of new snow by nightfall. Westerly winds will drift any new snow into thin cohesive slabs. These drifts will only be a couple inches deep and won’t pose much of a hazard. Be heads up if you find an unexpectedly deep drift of new snow.
As Alex outlines in his video from yesterday in Cooke City, conditions can change rapidly in the spring. Expect conditions to become more dangerous anytime there is a substantial amount of new snow or temperatures significantly above freezing.
Today, watch out for isolated pockets of wet snow and small wind drifts. Keep using good travel protocols just in case you get surprised: always carry avalanche rescue gear, only expose one person at a time to steep slopes, and watch your partners from a safe spot.
The avalanche danger is LOW.
If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our website, email (mtavalanche@gmail.com), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
See our education calendar for an up-to-date list of all local classes.
We will end regular forecasts this weekend and will begin issuing weather, snowpack and avalanche updates every Monday and Friday as well as updates to social media through April. Avalanches will still be possible if there is snow on the ground. Remain vigilant with safe travel practices and snowpack assessments for the duration of your riding season.