Trip Planning for Southern Madison

View Weather and Avalanche Log
24 Hour Snowfall and Wind
as of 5:00 am
Today3″ | NA
Apr 25 0″ | NA
Apr 24 0″ | NA
Taylor Fork
9460′     03/26 at 10:00
16.2℉
NW - 10mph
Gusts 19 mph
Carrot Basin SNOTEL
9000′     04/26 at 14:00
36℉
62″ Depth
Primary Problem: New Snow
Bottom Line: New snow will create the main avalanche hazards this weekend. Avalanches could show a wide range of characteristics, from slabs of wind-drifted snow to wet-loose avalanches that run long distances. Where more snow falls, slab avalanches could break within or below the new snow, even where not drifted. Wet snow avalanches breaking deeper than the new snow are possible on slopes that have wet, unfrozen snow below the new snow, or where a lot of precipitation falls as rain on a wet and unsupportable snowpack. If you travel on or below steep slopes, carefully assess the new snow for signs of instability. Continuously reassess snow stability throughout the day, and as you move through different aspects and elevations.

Past 5 Days

Sun Apr 14

Considerable
Mon Apr 15

None
Fri Apr 19

None
Mon Apr 22

None
Today

None

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Southern Madison
Taylor Fork
Remotely triggered, wet slab avalanche in the Taylor Fork
Incident details include images
Taylor Fork
WS-AMr-R2-D2-O
Elevation: 8,600
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.0607, -111.2720
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From IG: A group of riders noted very wet snow west of Cabin Creek and Southwest of the Taylor Fork. They were sinking to the ground where it was unconsolidated. The group remotely triggered a wet slab avalanche from the ridge top. There were shooting cracks that connected their location to the avalanche. This is an interesting of persistent weak layer and wet snow avalanche problems. 


More Avalanche Details

Shooting crack west of cabin Creek 2

Remotely triggered wet slab avalanche West of cabin Creek
Southern Madison
Quake Lake
Wet Slab Avalanche Above Quake Lake
Incident details include images
Quake Lake
WS-N-R2-D2-G
Coordinates: 44.8524, -111.3920
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From IG: Wet slide to the ground above Quake Lake. 


More Avalanche Details

Wet slab above quake lake
Southern Madison
Sphinx Mountain
Cornice Collapse on the Sphinx
Incident details include images
Sphinx Mountain
C-ASu
Coordinates: 45.1582, -111.4770
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From obs: " Unintentionally triggered a large cornice collapse on the south face of the Sphinx. " 


More Avalanche Details

Cornice Collapse on the Sphinx

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • Wet slab above quake lake

    Wet slide to the ground above Quake Lake. Photo: K Kramer

  • Cornice Collapse on the Sphinx

    Skiers unintentionally triggered this cornice above the south face of the Sphinx. No one was caught. Photo: Anonymous

  • Wet Slab Avalanche Lightning Ridge

    There was a full-depth wet slab avalanche that broke last week during the warm-up on Lightning Ridge. GNFAC

     

  • Small Wind-Slab Avalanche Sunlight Basin

    We saw one new wind-slab avalanche in Sunlight Basin. It was small. From a distance, it appeared to be about 6" deep and 30' across (R1-D1). GNFAC

  • Monster Cornices Above Sunlight Basin

    Spring cornices are growing very large above many wind-loaded slopes. GNFAC

  • Natural wet loose in Cabin Creek

    We rode from Taylor Fork through Cabin Creek on March 17. We saw a few recent slab avalanches that happened after the last snowfall, and some recent natural wet loose avalanches, and a cornice fall. Photo: GNFAC

  • Small slab on west side of Skyline Ridge

    We rode from Taylor Fork through Cabin Creek on March 17. We saw a few recent slab avalanches that happened after the last snowfall, and some recent natural wet loose avalanches, and a cornice fall. Photo: GNFAC

  • Slab avalanches on Sage peak

    We rode from Taylor Fork through Cabin Creek on March 17. We saw a few recent slab avalanches that happened after the last snowfall, and some recent natural wet loose avalanches, and a cornice fall. Photo: GNFAC

  • Cornice fall in Sage Basin

    We rode from Taylor Fork through Cabin Creek on March 17. We saw a few recent slab avalanches that happened after the last snowfall, and some recent natural wet loose avalanches, and a cornice fall. Photo: GNFAC

  • Avalanche at Bacon Rind

    A natural or human-triggered avalanche near the skin track at Bacon Rind. Photo: GNFAC

  • Avalanche 2 at Bacon Rind

    A natural or human-triggered avalanche near the skin track at Bacon Rind. Photo: GNFAC

  • Deep Cracks at Bacon Rind

    Deep shooting cracks near an avalanche at Bacon Rind. Photo: GNFAC

  • Natural Avalanche in Tepee 2

    We rode into Tepee Basin and saw two recent avalanches on 3/2/24. This one looked like it maybe happened yesterday, on a heavily wind-loaded slope below some cornices, 2-2.5' deep and 250-300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • Natural Avalanche in tepee 1

    We rode into Tepee Basin and saw two recent avalanches on 3/2/24. One looked like it happened this morning on a treed ridgeline, 1-1.5' deep 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • Natural Avalanche at Bacon Rind

    Skiers on 03/02/2024 saw a natural avalanche on an east-facing slope and broke 3-4' deep and 100' wide. This avalanche likely happened in the last 24 hours. Photo: A. Faulkner

     

  • Storm Snow Avalanche Sage Basin

    We noted a relatively small avalanche on the wall of Sage Basin that failed naturally within the storm snow. Photo: GNFAC

  • Old Avalanche Near Bacon Rind

    Skiers on 02/22/2024 observed an old avalanche that appeared to of been natural that happened sometime last week near 02/15 -02/16. Photo: H. Bigos-Lowe

  • Older avalanche on the skillet

    The skillet slid sometime recently. Based on the snow on top I'm guessing Thursday-Friday last week (Feb 15-16th), but it could have happened up to a week earlier. Broke ~2 ft deep, 150 ft wide, and it was hard to tell how far it ran, but I'm estimating 200 vertical feet. Photo: GNFAC

  • 2 avalanches near Skyline

    From IG: 2 avalanches from either this morning or yesterday at the bottom of Skyline ridge 2’ at the crown

  • Debris from recent slide in Tepee

    From FB 02/17/24: "Observed runout debris from a small avalanche on a south facing forested slope in Upper Tepee Basin. Shows avalanches can occur through forested areas." Photo: C. Sexton

  • Recent Avalanche in Wapiti Creek

    From obs: "We observed another, probably rider triggered avalanche in Wapiti Creek that broke on old snow near the ground ~2 feet deep and ~60ft across." Photo: S. Jett

  • Snowslide Avalanche

    From obs: "We observed large natural avalanches from afar on the west side of Snowslide Mountain. We observed these from a few miles away and were probably several feet deep and a few hundred feet wide." Photo: S. Jett

  • Near Woodward Mountain Avalanche

    From obs: "We observed large natural avalanches from afar on...the east aspect of a peak south of Woodward Mountain. We observed these from a few miles away and were probably several feet deep and a few hundred feet wide." Photo: S. Jett

  • Sunlight Basin avalanche

    Natural avalanche in Sunlight Basin. Photo taken 2/14/24. Slide appeared to be a few days old. Photo Credit: GNFAC

  • Rider triggered slide in Sage

    Avalanche in Sage Basin that appeared likely to have been remotely triggered by a snowmobiler from ~100 ft away. Photo taken 2/14/24. Slide was fresh, likely broke yesterday, 2/13/24. Photo Credit: GNFAC

  • Slide in Sage wrapping around Corner

    Natural avalanche in Sage Basin. Photo taken 2/14/24. Slide appeared to be a few days old. Photo Credit: GNFAC

  • Looking up at slide in Sage

    Natural avalanche in Sage Basin. Photo taken 2/14/24. Slide appeared to be a few days old. Photo Credit: GNFAC

  • View of large slide in Tepee

    An overview photo of the 3/4 mile wide avalanche in Tepee Basin. Photo: A. Vaughn

  • Natural Avalanche Ernie Miller, 2

    Photo of a natural avalanche that was reported on 02/09/2024. Photo taken on 02/10/2024. Photo: Z. Peterson

  • Natural Avalanche Ernie Miller

    Photo of a natural avalanche that was reported on 02/09/2024. Photo taken on 02/10/2024. Photo: Z. Peterson

  • Rider Triggered Avalanche Debris Pile, 02/07

    A portion of the debris pile from a rider triggered an avalanche on 02/07/2024. This avalanche broke 3/4 of a mile wide and had multiple large piles of debris with this being one of the largest. 

  • Snowmobile Triggered Avalanche Cont., 02/07

    The contiuation of the crown of an avalanche that was remotely triggered by a rider on 02/07. This was a very wide avalanche that broke 3/4 of a mile long, 3-4' deep. Photo: GNFAC

  • Snowmobile Triggered Avalanche, 02/07

    The crown of an avalanche that was remotely triggered by a rider on 02/07. This was a very wide avalanche that broke 3/4 of a mile long, 3-4' deep. Photo: GNFAC

  • Gaping Crack Top of Skillet

    This crack opened up above our snowpit as we made our exit away from the steeper terrain of the "Skillet" run toward low-angle trees. Photo: GNFAC

  • Shooting Cracks at Bacon Rind

    We triggered booming collapses and watched cracks shoot out across terrain features and snow shake off nearby trees for the entirety of our tour from the meadow near the car to the top of the Skillet. Photo: GNFAC

  • Cracking and Collapsing at Bacon Rind

    From obs: "We heard numerous large-scale collapses and witnessed the development of propagating tensile fractures on a 20°-25° slope along the skin track.... We skied this location 4 times this week. Each time, we experienced collapsing and fracturing within the snowpack. and stuck to skiing conservative, low-angle lines." Photo: T. Kalakay

  • Older avalanche along Sage Basin headwall

    We saw multiple old avalanches that happened sometime in the last week, likely near the end of the last storm. Photo: GNFAC

  • Older avalanche along Sage Basin headwall

    We saw multiple old avalanches that happened sometime in the last week, likely near the end of the last storm. Photo: GNFAC

  • Wet Snow Avalanches 01/31

    Recent avalanches seen in Taylor Fork near Beaver Creek. These likely happened on 01/31/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • Shooting crack closeup

    From email: "A friend and I were riding in lower Tepee today, staying on low angle terrain because of the current avalanche conditions. When side hilling on a 24 degree slope, I saw cracks shoot out approximately 100 feet around me. It was a smaller slope, but things are still pretty sensitive. This was a north facing slope in a valley that shouldn’t have been too wind loaded. " Photo: J. Norlander

Videos- Southern Madison

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Snowpit Profiles- Southern Madison

 

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Weather Stations- Southern Madison

Big Sky

Weather Forecast Southern Madison

Full Forecast, NOAA website
Extended Forecast for

20 Miles S Big Sky MT

Winter Storm Warning until April 27, 06:00pmClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Storm Warning
  •  Winter Storm Warning until April 27, 06:00pm

    NOW until
    6:00pm Sat

    Winter Storm Warning

  • This
    Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Snow showers, mainly before 5pm. Some thunder is also possible. High near 43. North wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    Snow Showers

    High: 43 °F

  • Tonight

    Tonight: A chance of snow showers before 9pm, then snow, mainly after 9pm. Some thunder is also possible. Patchy fog before 3am, then patchy fog after 4am. Low around 30. North northeast wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    Chance Snow
    Showers and
    Patchy Fog
    then Snow and
    Patchy Fog

    Low: 30 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Snow showers, possibly mixed with rain. Some thunder is also possible. Patchy fog before 7am. High near 42. East northeast wind 10 to 14 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Snow Likely
    and Patchy
    Fog then
    Rain/Snow

    High: 42 °F

  • Saturday
    Night

    Saturday Night: Snow showers before 9pm, then snow, mainly after 9pm. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 30. South wind 5 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Snow Showers
    then Snow
    Likely

    Low: 30 °F

  • Sunday

    Sunday: Snow likely before noon, then snow showers after noon. Some thunder is also possible. High near 41. North northwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Snow Showers

    High: 41 °F

  • Sunday
    Night

    Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. South wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    Low: 27 °F

  • Monday

    Monday: A chance of snow before noon, then snow showers after noon. Some thunder is also possible. High near 40. Windy, with a south wind 11 to 21 mph increasing to 26 to 36 mph. Winds could gust as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Chance Snow
    and Breezy
    then Snow
    Showers and
    Windy

    High: 40 °F

  • Monday
    Night

    Monday Night: Snow showers likely, mainly before midnight. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Windy, with a west wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 13 to 18 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

    Snow Showers
    Likely and
    Windy

    Low: 16 °F

The Last Word

We began our daily forecasts on December 7. 130 daily forecasts and 464 reported avalanches later, we wrapped up our daily forecasting season on April 14th. While avalanches remain a concern until the snow is in the rivers, read our SEASON SUMMARY to look back at the heart of the 2023-24 avalanche year.

04 / 22 / 24  <<  
 
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