Trip Planning for Southern Madison

View Weather and Avalanche Log
24 Hour Snowfall and Wind
as of 5:00 am
Nov 163″ |
Nov 15 0″ | NA
Nov 14 0″ | NA
Taylor Fork Weather
9460′     11/05 at 9:00
34.4℉
N - 0mph
Gusts 2 mph
Carrot Basin SNOTEL
9000′     11/17 at 09:00
13℉
23″ Depth
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: Fresh wind slabs are the main avalanche problem especially by Sunday when strong winds should blow from the west. Early-season avalanches may not bury you, but they will hurt playing pinball with you through the rocks and stumps. Hunters should be especially cautious since they often travel alone and without avalanche rescue gear. Avoid steep slopes with snow deeper than your ankles.

Past 5 Days

Wed Oct 30

None
Sat Nov 2

None
Wed Nov 6

None
Wed Nov 13

None
Fri Nov 15

None

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Southern Madison
Sphinx Mountain
Climber triggered wind slabs at the Sphinx
Incident details include images
Sphinx Mountain
HS-AF-R2-D1-I
Elevation: 9,600
Aspect: NW
Coordinates: 45.1582, -111.4770
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Triggered a small wind slab:

-9600'

-N aspect on the NW ridge of Sphinx Mountain 

-Strong SW wind

-Noticed other small crowns, likely triggered from another party traversing the north-facing bowl at similar elevations


More Avalanche Details

North face of the Sphinx, Nov 2

Wind Slabs at the Sphinx

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 8
  • Snowpit at Bridger

    Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos

  • North face of the Sphinx, Nov 2

    Photo: S. Bonucci

  • Wind Slabs at the Sphinx

    From obs.: "Triggered a small wind slab: -9600' -N aspect on the NW ridge of Sphinx Mountain -Strong SW wind

    -Noticed oth er small crowns, likely triggered from another party traversing the north-facing bowl at similar elevations" Photo: S. Bonucci

  • Cracking in recent hard wind slab

    From e-mail: "Photo attached from near top of hyalite peak, 11/2. Cracking in recent hard wind slab, I had to really jump hard to make this. Walked on many other hard slabs that were well bonded. Highly variable snowpack. I think you'd be most likely to get into trouble by popping out a small hard slab pocket like this and getting magic carpeted into some thinly covered terrain." Photo: B. VandenBos

  • Minor Faceting in At Spanish Peaks Resort

    From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"

  • Fresh Snow in Big Sky

    On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club Webcam

  • Bridger Bowl Ridge Webcam

    On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Bridger Bowl Webcams

  • Powder Blast 2024 - October 25

    The 26th annual fundraiser for the Friends of the GNFAC is October 25 at the Emerson Cultural Center. More info and tickets at: https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Powder-Blast-2024-101627

Videos- Southern Madison

WebCams


Raynolds Pass, Looking N

Snowpit Profiles- Southern Madison

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Stations- Southern Madison

Big Sky

Weather Forecast Southern Madison

Full Forecast, NOAA website
Extended Forecast for

20 Miles S Big Sky MT

Winter Weather Advisory November 17, 08:00pm until November 18, 05:00pmClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Weather Advisory

  • Today

    Today: A 10 percent chance of snow after 5pm. Patchy blowing snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 21. Wind chill values as low as zero. Breezy, with a south wind 25 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

    High: 21 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow and
    Patchy
    Blowing Snow

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Snow likely, mainly between 9pm and 2am. Widespread blowing snow, mainly before 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Wind chill values as low as zero. Windy, with a south wind 30 to 36 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Low: 16 °F

    Snow Likely
    and Blowing
    Snow

  • Monday

    Monday: Snow. Areas of blowing snow before 8am. Temperature falling to around 11 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -5. South southwest wind 13 to 17 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

    High: 20 °F⇓

    Snow and
    Areas Blowing
    Snow

  • Monday Night

    Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 5. Wind chill values as low as -10. Southwest wind around 10 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Low: 5 °F

    Chance Snow
    then Mostly
    Cloudy

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 13. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    High: 13 °F

    Chance Snow

  • Tuesday Night

    Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 2. South wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

    Low: 2 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 19. Breezy, with a south wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    High: 19 °F

    Chance Snow
    and Breezy

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Breezy, with a south wind 18 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

    Low: 17 °F

    Chance Snow
    and Breezy

  • Thursday

    Thursday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Breezy.

    High: 27 °F

    Chance Snow
    and Breezy

The Last Word

11 / 13 / 24  <<  
 
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