Trip Planning for Northern Madison

as of 5:00 am
Today2″ | 14-24 W
Jan 12 4″ | 5-25 NW
Jan 11 3″ | 25-45 W
9400′     1/13 at 6:00
6 ℉
SW - 12 mph, Gusts 19
2 " New
8880′     01/13 at 07:00
7℉
42″ Depth
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: New snow and wind are creating dangerous avalanche conditions and human triggered avalanches are likely. Wind slab avalanches are the primary concern, and they could break 1-3 feet deep and be large enough to bury or injure a person. Avalanches could break deeper on buried persistent weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack. These persistent slab avalanches could be very large and destructive. While we have not seen many of these avalanches yet in the mountains near Bozeman and Big Sky, the snow structure does exist and should not be trusted while the new snow and wind are stressing the snowpack. Avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees and the flatter runout zones below.

Past 5 Days

Wed Jan 8

Considerable
Thu Jan 9

Considerable
Fri Jan 10

Considerable
Sat Jan 11

Considerable
Sun Jan 12

Considerable

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Northern Madison
Cedar Mtn.
Natural Avalanches on Cedar Mountain. NE and E aspects
Incident details include images
Cedar Mtn.
N-R2-D2
Elevation: 9,400
Coordinates: 45.2268, -111.5120
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Multiple large avalanches on different bowls and different aspects of Cedar. Photos taken from Yellowstone Club by YC Ski Patrol. NE and E aspects. Both approximately 9400 feet elevation. Shaded photo is N aspect, photo with sun and shade is NE.


More Avalanche Details
Northern Madison
Buck Ridge
Snowmobile Triggered Avalanche at Buck Ridge
Incident details include images
Buck Ridge
SS-AMu
Coordinates: 45.1719, -111.3800
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From IG 1/3: “Buck ridge today. NE aspect. Probably 100’ wide and at least 3’ deep. Looked like it was triggered by a snowmobiler earlier in the day.”


More Avalanche Details
Northern Madison
Buck Ridge
Recent human triggered slide Buck Ridge
Incident details include images
Buck Ridge
SS-R1-D1-O
Elevation: 9,300
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.1675, -111.3610
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Wasn't surprised to see this fresh human triggered slide in Beaver Creek when just around the corner was a previous one in 1st Yellowmule


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40

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 Forecast Northern Madison

Extended Forecast for

5 Miles NNW Big Sky MT

  • Today

    Today: A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 4pm.  Cloudy, with a high near 13. Wind chill values as low as -10. Northwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.  Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    High: 13 °F

    Chance Snow

  • Tonight

    Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -5. Northwest wind around 9 mph.

    Low: 6 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of snow before 8am.  Sunny, with a high near 21. Wind chill values as low as -5. West northwest wind around 10 mph.

    High: 21 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow then
    Sunny

  • Tuesday Night

    Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 14. West northwest wind around 11 mph becoming south southwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.

    Low: 14 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. South southwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

    High: 27 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

    Low: 16 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28. South wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

    High: 28 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: A chance of snow, mainly after 11pm.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. South southwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

    Low: 9 °F

    Chance Snow

  • Friday

    Friday: Snow likely. The snow could be heavy at times.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 12.

    High: 12 °F

    Heavy Snow

The Last Word

On Tuesday, a skier was killed in an avalanche in Colorado (initial report from CAIC). Last Sunday a skier was killed, and a second sustained injuries in an avalanche in western Wyoming (preliminary information from BTAC). Our hearts go out to the skiers’ friends and family, backcountry partners, and the rescue teams.  

Thank you for sharing observations. Please let us know about avalanches, weather or signs of instability via the form on our website, or you can email us at mtavalanche@gmail.com, or call the office phone at 406-587-6984.

 

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