GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Feb 14, 2021 Not the Current Forecast Good Morning. This is Alex Marienthal with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Forecast on Sunday, February 14^th, Valentine's Day, at 7:05 a.m. This forecast does not apply to operating ski areas. Mountain Weather Since yesterday morning the mountains got a trace of new snow. In the Bridger Range, east wind has been 25-35 mph with gusts of 30-50 mph. Elsewhere wind has been easterly at 5-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph. This morning temperatures are teens below zero to single digits above zero F. Today temperatures will climb to single digits and low teens above zero F. Wind direction will be variable at 0-10 mph. Snow is expected tonight with 1-2" possible by morning and more through Tuesday. Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion [Moderate.png] Bridger Range - Gallatin Range - Madison Range - Lionhead Range Weak, sugary snow near the base of the snowpack makes large avalanches possible to trigger today. The snowpack has been slowly stabilizing since the mountains received 2-4 feet of snow last weekend, but we continue to get reports of unstable slopes. Yesterday in the southern Madison Range a snowmobiler triggered and was partially buried in an avalanche. They were not injured. Their group also remotely triggered two other slides. Skiers in the Bridger Range saw a slide occur from wind-loaded terrain near the ridge, uncertain whether it was skier or naturally triggered (photo and info). On Thursday, two separate groups triggered large avalanches in the Lionhead area and near Big Sky. East winds yesterday and overnight drifted recent snow into fresh slabs that could break easily today, especially in the Bridger Range where wind was strongest. East winds are less common, and form slabs in unusual locations. These slabs are large enough to be harmful, and could trigger a much larger avalanche on sugary snow near the ground. This season's untrustworthy snowpack continues to show signs of instability and creates heightened avalanche danger. Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE. Carefully evaluate the snowpack and consequences of a slide before riding on or underneath steep slopes. Ddon't let "stable" snowpack test results cause complacency. Remember recent human triggered slides as "unstable" test results. [Moderate.png]