Trip Planning for Northern Madison

View Weather and Avalanche Log
24 Hour Snowfall and Wind
as of 5:00 am
Today1″ | 25-50 W
Dec 3 3″ | 25-61 W
Dec 2 8″ | 15-35 SW
Timberline Station
9400′     12/04 at 13:00
28 ℉
W - 22 mph, Gusts 34
0 " New
Lone Mountain SNOTEL
8880′     12/04 at 13:00
33℉
11″ Depth
Bottom Line: In the last 4 days the mountains around Bozeman received around 5” of snow with the Big Sky area and southern Madison and southern Gallatin Ranges getting 12-15”. This snow was blown into wind slabs that overlay weaker, faceted snow found at higher elevations (around 9,000’). The snowpack is thin and avalanche risk will likely be confined to wind drifted gullies or bowls. Ice climbers need to be careful of triggering small pockets of drifted snow. Skiers should heed the sage advice, “It’s there’s enough snow to ski, there’s enough snow to avalanche”.
Primary Problem: Wind-Drifted Snow

Past 5 Days

Thu Nov 23

None
Fri Nov 24

None
Fri Dec 1

None
Sun Dec 3

None
Today

None

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 6
  • South face Lone Mtn. - Nov 30

    The south face of Lone Mountain (Big Sky Ski Resort) on November 30, 2023. Photo: GNFAC

  • Thin snowpack at Yellowstone Club

    Today (11/30/23) we looked at the snowpack in the northern Madison Range/Big Sky area. At 9,300' on a northeast aspect there was around a foot of snow (30-45cm) which is mostly weak layers of facets. When the mountains get more snow we expect avalanches to break on this weak snow. Photo: GNFAC

  • Avalanches at Pine Creek

    From IG: “Pine creek today, some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

  • Avalanche at Pine Creek

    From IG: “Pine creek today (10/21), some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

  • Avalanche on Mt. Blackmore, hyalite

    From obs. "Was out alpine climbing today and observed the north face of Blackmore had slid already."

  • Powder Blast 2023

    Get your tickets and online bid for items HERE!

Videos- Northern Madison

WebCams


8800' Camera, Lone Peak view

Yellowstone Club, Timberline Chair

Snowpit Profiles- Northern Madison

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Stations- Northern Madison

Big Sky

Yellowstone Club

Weather Forecast Northern Madison

Full Forecast, NOAA website
Extended Forecast for

5 Miles NNW Big Sky MT

  • This
    Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Breezy, with a west wind 17 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

    Mostly Cloudy
    and Breezy

    High: 28 °F

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to around 27 by 4am. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

    Mostly Cloudy
    and Breezy

    Low: 22 °F⇑

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 33. Breezy, with a southwest wind 16 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

    Partly Sunny
    and Breezy

    High: 33 °F

  • Tuesday
    Night

    Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

    Mostly Cloudy

    Low: 26 °F

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 34. Breezy, with a south wind 18 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

    Partly Sunny
    and Breezy

    High: 34 °F

  • Wednesday
    Night

    Wednesday Night: Snow, mainly after 11pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 22. Breezy, with a south wind 24 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

    Heavy Snow
    and Breezy

    Low: 22 °F

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Snow. High near 24. West southwest wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Snow

    High: 24 °F

  • Thursday
    Night

    Thursday Night: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. South southwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

    Snow Likely

    Low: 13 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: Snow likely, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 16.

    Snow Likely

    High: 16 °F

The Last Word

We travel with a lot of electronics that could interfere with our avalanche transceiver, both as a victim and as a rescuer. Check out our article on Electronic Warfare to learn what to do.

12 / 3 / 23  <<  
 
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