Good morning. This is Doug Chabot with early season snowpack information issued Monday, November 7 at 9 a.m. Today’s information is sponsored by Montana Import Group in partnership with the Friends of the Avalanche Center. This information will be updated as conditions change.
By Sunday morning the mountains throughout southwest Montana picked up 8-10 inches of new snow. The storm was cold and the snow that fell was low density powder measuring 5-6% with ridgetop winds out of the southwest at 10-20 mph. The next seven days are forecasted to be dry. Mountain temperatures are in the single digits this morning (well below average), but by Wednesday they are expected to rise into the high twenties.
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The NRCS SNOTEL sites and ski area weather stations are showing 10-17 inches of snow on the ground, most of it falling in the last few days. With warmer temperatures and sunny skies I expect this depth will decrease as the snow settles. My hope is that it will consolidate enough to inhibit faceting, but that might be a futile hope, especially at the higher, north facing elevations. Cold air temperatures on a thin snowpack, especially one of low density snow, create conditions ripe for faceting. Facets are weak, and this time of year they can grow quickly into tenuous, large, cupped-shaped crystals called depth hoar. Only time will tell what type of snowpack structure evolves. The foundation of our winter’s snowpack is building. My fingers are crossed that it’ll be a strong one.
We have not heard of any avalanches lately, but that could change. Gullies or couloirs filled in with windblown snow deserve extra attention. Although skiers are not out in full force, ice climbers and hunters certainly are. In years past we’ve had early season fatalities with both these groups. Small terrain features can avalanche and sweep a person over a cliff or into a gulley. Hunters are especially vulnerable since they travel solo many times. In snow covered avalanche terrain I recommend traveling with a partner and only exposing one at a time to a given slope, no matter how small. In 2004 two ice climbers were swept over a cliff to their deaths when a tiny pocket released on the north face of the Sphinx.
Wednesday, November 9, HELENA
Avalanche Awareness talk at the Basecapmp, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, November 11, BOZEMAN
ALL.I.CAN. ski movie at the Emerson, 7 and 9 p.m. Proceeds help the Friends of the Avalanche Center. Info at www.coldsmokeawards.com
Wednesday, November 16, BIG SKY
Avalanche Awareness talk at Grizzly Outfitters, 7 p.m.
Thursday, November 17, BOZEMAN
Avalanche Awareness talk at Northern Lights Trading Company, 7 p.m.
Thursday, November 17, BILLINGS
Avalanche Awareness talk at the Basecamp, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 30, BOZEMAN
Introduction to Avalanches with Field Course at MSU. Wed and Thur evening lectures with a field course on Saturday. More info at http://www.mtavalanche.com/education