THIS AVALANCHE ADVISORY EXPIRED ON March 17, 2020 @ 6:14 pm
Avalanche Advisory published on March 16, 2020 @ 6:14 pm
Issued by Ben Bernall - Kootenai National Forest

Kootenai

bottom line

Kootenai avalanche advisories will be posted on Friday mornings for the rest of March. With the closing of Montana schools I will be unable to venture into the mountains on Mondays. I will however provide the best intel I can regarding snow conditions without a hazard rating attached. This info will be based on weather and my tracking of the winters' snowpack. My apologies for the interuption in the Tuesday morning advisories!

How to read the advisory

Kootenai avalanche advisories will be posted on Friday mornings for the rest of March. With the closing of Montana schools I will be unable to venture into the mountains on Mondays. I will however provide the best intel I can regarding snow conditions without a hazard rating attached. This info will be based on weather and my tracking of the winters' snowpack. My apologies for the interuption in the Tuesday morning advisories!

No Rating

?

Above Treeline

No Rating

?

Near Treeline

No Rating

?

Below Treeline
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slab
  • Type ?
  • Aspect/Elevation ?
  • Likelihood ?
    Certain
    Very Likely
    Likely
    Possible
    Unlikely
  • Size ?
    Historic
    Very Large
    Large
    Small

It's anybodies guess how much snowfall we recieved last weekend! In some spots it was blown down to the ice crust and in other areas the drifts are four feet deep. Watch for areas where the snow has been drifted into pockets. Steep chutes, gullies, steep rolls and wind-lips, not to mention shallow depressions below ridgeline; these are the spots to watch, any areas where the snow was deposited by the wind and the terrain is steep! In the coming days this week the sun will be out, any aspects taking on the afternoon sun will be a little more prone to cutting lose under the weight of a sled or rider. 

Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
  • Type ?
  • Aspect/Elevation ?
  • Likelihood ?
    Certain
    Very Likely
    Likely
    Possible
    Unlikely
  • Size ?
    Historic
    Very Large
    Large
    Small

It's going to be a beautiful week and the sun will shine. Watch your exposure the next couple of days as the afternoon sun will heat up steep slopes that are now loaded with fresh snow. Expect to see some "loose-wet" avalanches on the hill as things heat up. As always, pay attention to whats below you and try to avoid high consequence areas (terrain above cliffs and timber) once the surface snow starts to show signs of instability such as pinwheels and rollerballs.

advisory discussion

Life is a little dynamic right now. Corona Virus is on the rise and stocks are crashing. Yin and Yang. You may or may not be concerned about either! If you are me, you just think about what the snow is like all the time (and maybe having a couple extra rolls of toilet paper on hand). As mentioned, my time to poke into the mountains and dig in the snow will be a little limited for the rest of the month. Advisories will continue to go out first thing Friday mornings and conclude on March 27th. I will still issue some info on Monday evenings or Tuesday mornings for those of you who plan to go out early in the week. In the meantime, keep a level head and enjoy that sunshine!

Weather and CURRENT CONDITIONS
weather summary 
Backcountry Forecast from NWS Missoula issued:
240 PM MDT Mon Mar 16 2020

DISCUSSION: 

Northwest Montana: Temperatures will moderate through Tuesday as 
the cold Canadian airmass from this weekend shifts eastward. A
second (but much weaker) push of colder Canadian air is expected 
on Tuesday night into Wednesday. This push will result in a 
period of breezy northeast winds and light snowfall along the
Continental Divide. High pressure builds Thursday into Friday,
resulting in generally dry conditions and temperatures nudging
towards seasonal normals. 
Kootenai:
--------------------------- 5000-7000 FT ----------------------------
                      Tonight      Tue          Tue Night    Wed      
Cloud Cover           10%          40%          45%          45%      
Hi/Lo Temps           12 to 17     32 to 40     11 to 18     26 to 35 
Winds(mph)            N  5         NE  6G16     NE 12G22     NE  9    
Precip Chc            0            0            0            0        
Precip Type           none         none         none         none     
Liquid Amt            0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00     
Snow Ratio(SLR)       0            0            0            0        
Snow Amt(in)          0            0            0            0        
Snow Level            2500         2500         1500         500
Disclaimer

Avalanche conditions change for better or worse continually. Backcountry travelers should be prepared to assess current conditions for themselves, plan their routes of travel accordingly, and never travel alone. Backcountry travelers can reduce their exposure to avalanche hazards by utilizing timbered trails and ridge routes and by avoiding open and exposed terrain with slope angles of 30 degrees or more. Backcountry travelers should carry the necessary avalanche rescue equipment such as a shovel, avalanche probe or probe ski poles, a rescue beacon and a well-equipped first aid kit.  For a recorded version of the Avalanche Advisory call (208)765-7323.