This is Stan Bones with the backcountry avalanche advisory issued by
   the U.S. Forest Service Glacier Country Avalanche Center at 6:00 AM,
   Tuesday, March 7th, 2006, for the Glacier Park and Flathead and
   Kootenai National Forest areas.

                              HAZARD ANALYSIS

   The avalanche danger is currently being rated as MODERATE between
   5,500 and 8,000 ft. elevation and LOW below 5,500 ft.
   These danger ratings expires at midnight, Tuesday, March 7th. The
   outlook is for the avalanche danger to increase Wednesday and Thursday
   as a late winter storm impacts the area's mountains with significant
   new snowfall and breezy SW winds.
   Because of the general nature of this advisory message, each
   backcountry party will always need to make their own time and site
   specific avalanche hazard evaluations.

   WEATHER ANALYSIS: 
   For most of the last week, Northwestern Montana was under the
   influence of a mild, dry, SW'erly flow. After Tuesday's rain,
   conditions were mostly dry Wednesday thru Sunday. During that period
   mountain daytime high temperatures typically peaked either near or
   above freezing, while nighttime lows were mostly in the lower 20's and
   upper teens. On Monday the dry conditions began to loosen grip as a
   low pressure system center began moving on hore just north of the
   Canada/US border. Many mountain locations received up to 0.5" of snow
   water equivalent over the 24 hour period of Monday. Temp's generally
   peaked near 35 degrees F Monday and then fell back into the upper 20's
   Tuesday morning.

   SNOWPACK ANALYSIS: 
   Our backcountry observation Monday was in Noisy Basin in the Swan
   Range NE of Bigfork, while over the weekend we had general
   observations from the Purcell Range north of Libby. Snowpit
   investigations are finding that the current snowpack is generally
   settled and showing signs of significant strength. The refreezing of
   last Tuesday's rain soaked crust and the free-water percolation
   columns and channels deeper in the snowpack has provided tremendous
   strength to the snowpack. Mild temperatures are allowing the new
   snowfall received since Tuesday to generally settle and bond well to
   the buried melt-freeze ice layer. Recent snows have been on the moist
   side and winds have often been light so wind loading doesn't appear to
   be a problem.

   AVALANCHE - INSTABILITY DESCRIPTION: 
   We're currently rating the avalanche danger between the elevations of
   5,500 and 8,000 ft. elevation as MODERATE. Unstable near-surface snow
   is possible on steep terrain. Natural avalanches are unlikely, while
   human triggered loose snow and slab avalanches are possible.
   Backcountry travelers should use caution in steeper terrain on all
   aspects.

   Below 5,500 ft. elevation we're rating the avalanche danger as LOW.
   The shallow snow there is generally stable with only isolated areas of
   instability. Natural avalanches are very unlikely, while human
   triggered avalanches are unlikely. Backcountry travel is generally
   safe. Normal caution is advised.
   WEATHER FORECAST & AVALANCHE OUTLOOK:

   
   The weather forecast is for scattered rain and snow showers to
   continue over NW Montana Tuesday. On Wednesday the beginning of a
   series of strong late winter weather systems are expected to move over
   the region. A winter storm watch for significant mountain snowfall and
   breezy conditions has been issued for Wednesday. By Thursday new
   snowfall amounts are expected to exceed 12" in the mountains with SW
   winds blowing up to 30 MPH. These conditions are likely to cause a
   significant increase in the avalanche danger this week. Backcountry
   travelers will need to be alert Wednesday and Thursday for a possible
   rapid increase in the avalanche danger.

   The next regularly scheduled update of this advisory message will be
   on Friday, March 10th, 2006.

   Please note that this avalanche advisory is our best interpretation of
   snow pack conditions and National Weather Service forecasts on the day
   the advisory is issued. Unanticipated weather changes such as wind, a
   marked temperature increase, or precipitation beyond forecast amounts
   can increase the avalanche danger. Local variations may also exist.