Caution advised for snow falling off of building roofs. Park accordingly.

Dangerous avalanche conditions may already exist in many back country areas, please call the Recorded Avalanche Advisory 406-587-6981 for the most current conditions. Also, see the Avalanche Advisory posted below.

Today: Breezy. Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30 percent. Highs 27°F to 33°F.

Tonight: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Scattered snow showers. Southwest winds around 15 mph. Chance of snow 30 percent. Lows 14°F to 20°F.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. West winds around 15 mph late in the afternoon. Chance of snow 30 percent. Highs 22°F to 28°F.

Wednesday Night: Colder. Partly cloudy. Lows 5°F to 11°F.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Southwest winds around 15 mph in the afternoon. Highs 23°F to 29°F.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows 8°F to 14°F.

Friday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of snow. Highs 23°F to 29°F.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Lows 8°F to 14°F.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy. Highs 22°F to 28°F.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows 2°F to 10°F.

Sunday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy. Highs 24°F to 30°F.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows 6°F to 12°F.

Monday: Partly cloudy. Highs 26°F to 32°F.

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Mountain Weather

This morning mountain temperatures were near 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Westerly winds were blowing 20 gusting to 40 mph in the Bridger Range and northern Gallatin Range. In all other areas westerly winds were blowing 10 gusting to 20 mph. Since yesterday, Hyalite Canyon and the mountains near Cooke City received about an inch of snow. A few other places received a trace. Cloudy skies this morning may produce another dusting and maybe an inch in places. Without much sunshine today, temperatures shouldn't warm too much. Winds may increase a little and back to the Southwest.

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion:

Bridger Range, Northern Madison Range, and Cooke City:

Now is a tricky time. The avalanche danger is slowly decreasing following last week's heavy snow. Some slopes will harbor unstable conditions while others are quickly stabilizing. Yesterday near Cooke City, a rider on a snow bike remotely triggered an avalanche while entering the Sheep Creek basin (Southwest aspect, 8800 feet, 3 to 4 feet deep, 100 feet wide). Also yesterday the Big Sky Ski Patrol discovered a cornice triggered avalanche in a permanently closed area under the West Wall. It broke 1 to 2 feet deep on facets near the ground. What these two slides have in common is a snowpack that was thin during the month of January (video).

Avalanches have occurred where layers of faceted snow exist under last week's new snow. These faceted layers can be found on many slopes. Low elevation slopes and south and west facing slopes (photo) at higher elevations had a previously thin snowpack and have facets near the ground. Other slopes with a deeper snowpack have a thin layer of facets. This layer seems to be more problematic on the southern half of the compass. These distributions are confusing especially since these layers are not widespread and many stable slopes can be found. For today wind loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees have a CONSIDERABLE Avalanche Danger. All other slopes have a MODERATE Avalanche Danger.

Northern Gallatin Range:

Prior to last week's snow, the northern Gallatin Range had received much less snow than other areas consequently have a thinner snowpack. During cold weather in January, the snowpack became weak and faceted. Last week's snowfall placed a heavy load of snow on this weak snowpack which could not support the load and produced collapsing, cracking, and avalanches. See this human triggered avalanche from last Thursday – video. With widespread weak facets buried under recent snow, today the Avalanche Danger is CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees and MODERATE Avalanche Danger on less steep slopes.

Southern Madison Range, Southern Gallatin Range, the Lionhead Area near West Yellowstone:

The southern Madison and Gallatin Ranges and the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, received a less snow last week but these areas have a widespread layer of weak facets buried 1 to 1.5 feet deep. Enough snow fell to stress this layer and produce avalanches. On Sunday, skiers near Lightning Creek in the southern Madison Range triggered a slide about 300 feet away that broke 150 feet wide and long, and about 1 foot deep (photo). Additionally, last Friday up to 10 slides were seen on south facing slopes on Kirkwood Ridge. With a widespread weak layer and recent avalanches, today the Avalanche Danger is CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Less steep slopes have a MODERATE Avalanche Danger.

The next advisory tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. If you have any snowpack or avalanche observations, drop us a line at mtavalanche@gmail.com or call us at: 406-587-6984.

EDUCATION, PHOTOS, SNOWPITS, and VIDEOS

1. For links to Articles, Education and (photos), (snowpits), or (videos) listed in the above report, please visit this Link.

2. They have recently uploaded more photos and snowpits to their web site, more than what are linked in the advisory above.

3. They have creating a series of "How To…" stability test videos. So far they have clips on performing a CT and ECT. They are located under Stability Tests on their Resources page.

Information provided by Doug Chabot, Mark Staples, and Eric Knoff from the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. For Photos and Videos, please visit the Avalanche Centers Website!

If you have any snowpack or avalanche observations, drop them a line at mtavalanche@gmail.com or call: 406-587-6984.

For detailed Avalanche Terms utilized here, please see the Avalanche Glossary.