GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Feb 19, 2022
Not the Current Forecast

Good morning. This is Alex Marienthal with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Forecast on Saturday, February 19th, at 7:00 a.m. 

Mountain Weather

Since yesterday morning the mountains near Cooke City got 2" of new snow, near West Yellowstone got 1", and elsewhere got zero. Wind has been west-southwest at 15-25 mph with gusts of 30-40 mph. Temperatures are teens to mid-20s F this morning. Today, temperatures will reach high 20s F near Cooke City and West Yellowstone and high 30s F near Bozeman and Big Sky. Wind will increase to 20-35 mph out of the west. Snow is expected late tonight and tomorrow. By morning, 1-2" are possible in the southern half of our forecast area with a trace to 1" elsewhere, and more falling through the day.

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

Cooke City

Near Cooke City a layer of weak snow is buried 1.5-2 feet deep on many slopes which makes it possible for a person to trigger large avalanches. Since Tuesday these mountains got a foot of snow (0.9" SWE) that has been blown into deeper drifts by west-northwest wind the last few days. These drifts of recent snow alone could avalanche and be large enough to bury or injure a person, or they could break deeper and larger on a buried persistent weak layer. Yesterday a natural avalanche of wind-drifted snow occurred on Scotch Bonnet mountain (details). Before riding on steep slopes, carefully assess the snowpack for wind-loading and buried weak layers, and consider the consequences of being caught in an avalanche. Today, large avalanches are possible and avalanche danger is MODERATE.