Trip Planning for Island Park

as of 5:00 am
Today6″ | 25-71 W
Mar 27 1″ | 10-38 NW
Mar 26 1″ | 5-55 NW
9885′     03/28 at 16:00
19.4℉
W - 20mph
Gusts 54 mph
8750′     03/28 at 17:14
101.5″ Depth
8.3″New
7710′     03/28 at 16:00
29℉
84″ Depth
Primary Problem: Wind-Drifted Snow
Bottom Line: New snow and wind-loading are the main avalanche concerns today. They are creating instability in the upper 1+ foot of the snowpack, and the weaker, faceted snow near the ground is more difficult to trigger, but not impossible. Rocks sticking out in starting zones indicate shallow areas where a person could trigger a large and deadly slide. Today is a day of active loading and the snowpack will be most sensitive to triggering, both naturally and by people. Dangerous avalanche conditions are back. Be careful getting near avalanche terrain and be especially mindful of terrain traps.

Past 5 Days

Sun Mar 24

Considerable
Mon Mar 25

Moderate
Tue Mar 26

Moderate
Wed Mar 27

Moderate
Today

Considerable

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 38
  • From obs: "No details, came upon them while riding and making observations of the terrain. One was North-Northeast, the other was North-Northwest facing. Across the drainage from each other. Also, notice three other small avalanches on a west facing slope, about two miles east of the first two. All five were on slopes well over 30. In the centennial mountains, close to the continental on the Idaho/Montana border."

  • From obs: "No details, came upon them while riding and making observations of the terrain. One was North-Northeast, the other was North-Northwest facing. Across the drainage from each other. Also, notice three other small avalanches on a west facing slope, about two miles east of the first two. All five were on slopes well over 30. In the centennial mountains, close to the continental on the Idaho/Montana border."

  • Riders snapped a photo of natural avalanche activity above Blue Creek in the Centennial Mountains. Photo: P Rockwell

  • A small avalanche that was triggered by riders on 02/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC

  • This avalanche was triggered by riders a few days ago. This was a small slope and broke 100' wide and 2-3' deep. Photo: GNFAC 

  • Snowmobilers in Hell Roaring Creek saw a few natural avalanches that happened in the last week. The exact date is unknown.  Photo: B. Schleicher

  • Snowmobilers in Hell Roaring Creek saw a few natural avalanches that happened in the last week. The exact date is unknown.  Photo: B. Schleicher

  • Snowmobilers in Hell Roaring Creek saw a few natural avalanches that happened in the last week. The exact date is unknown.  Photo: B. Schleicher

  • This on one of over 15 avalanches snowmobilers saw today, 01/30/2024. These avalanches likely happened on 01/29 or the morning of 01/30. Photo. N.

  • This on one of over 15 avalanches snowmobilers saw today, 01/30/2024. These avalanches likely happened on 01/29 or the morning of 01/30. Photo. N.

     

  • Do you like to hike? Do you like to ski? Then the King & Queen of the Ridge is for you. Hike, ski and raise money for the Friends of the Avalanche Center in their 2nd biggest fundraiser of the year. Join the effort to promote and support avalanche safety and awareness! Fundraising prizes for top 5 individuals who raise over $500. No racing is necessary to compete for the fundraising prizes. Info to fundraise is HERE or donate here. Race participants for the [insert dates] event must register separately with Bridger Bowl here.

  • A rider triggered this avalanche while side-hilling across the bottom of the slope. The rider was able to quickly turn downhill and avoid the slide. No one was caught. Photo: Anonymous

  • A rider triggered this avalanche while side-hilling across the bottom of the slope. The rider was able to quickly turn downhill and avoid the slide. No one was caught. Photo: Anonymous

  • On Sawtelle Peak, Island Park, when the clouds lifted we could see a crown of a snowmobiler triggered slide that occurred yesterday. It broke on the buried surface hoar and facets about 1.5 feet under the surface. Recent snow and wind-loading has created dangerous avalanche conditions. Photo: GNFAC

  • On Sawtelle Peak, Island Park, when the clouds lifted we could see a crown of a snowmobiler triggered slide that occurred yesterday. It broke on the buried surface hoar and facets about 1.5 feet under the surface. Recent snow and wind-loading has created dangerous avalanche conditions. Photo: GNFAC

  • On Sawtelle Peak, Island Park, when the clouds lifted we could see a crown of a snowmobiler triggered slide that occurred yesterday. It broke on the buried surface hoar and facets about 1.5 feet under the surface. Recent snow and wind-loading has created dangerous avalanche conditions. Photo: GNFAC

  • Snowpit at the Head of Hellroaring Creek on 1/7/24. Note the two stripes of surface hoar in the pit wall.

  • We measured 16" of low-density snow equaling 0.7" of snow water equivalent at higher elevations in the Centennial Mountains of Island Park, ID. The new snow is sitting on a couple of layers of feathery surface hoar and a weak snowpack. It will not take much wind, settlement, or new snow to push the snowpack to the breaking point. Photo: GNFAC

  • New snow in Island Park made for beautiful views and heightened avalanche danger as the new snow fell on a snowpack riddled with weak layers. Photo: GNFAC

  • Doug Chabot walking off Lionhead Ridge to a snowpit site.

  • We snowmobiled up to 9,000' on Sawtelle peak, then skied to dig a couple pits. Our first pit was on an East aspect on a heavily wind loaded slope. The HS was 130cm (or 4.2 feet). There was 8" of new snow equal to 0.85" SWE, sitting over old consolidated snow that made up a slab over soft, weak facets about 50cm off the ground. We had ECTP24 x2 break on the old weak snow.... Photo: GNFAC

  • We snowmobiled up to 9,000' on Sawtelle peak on 12/23/23. The snow depth at 8,800' was 3-4 feet. Photo: GNFAC

  • Riders saw large surface hoar crystals while riding outside of Island Park. Photo. B.Schleicher

     

  • From IG on 12/10: "2 slides we triggered remotely in tepee yesterday"

  • From facebook message: "North facing slope 15 miles south of west Yellowstone probably 30ish degree slope. Probably 16-18 inch slab". Photo: T. Taubman

  • We met up with the Fugawee Snowmobile Club, Idaho Parks and Recreation, and Klim to install new beacon checkers at the trailhead in Island Park. Great work to the team! Photos: GNFAC

  • We met up with the Fugawee Snowmobile Club, Idaho Parks and Recreation, and Klim to install new beacon checkers at the trailhead in Island Park. Great work to the team! Photos: GNFAC

  • We met up with the Fugawee Snowmobile Club, Idaho Parks and Recreation, and Klim to install new beacon checkers at the trailhead in Island Park. Great work to the team! Photos: GNFAC

  • We met up with the Fugawee Snowmobile Club, Idaho Parks and Recreation, and Klim to install new beacon checkers at the trailhead in Island Park. Great work to the team! Photos: GNFAC

  • We met up with the Fugawee Snowmobile Club, Idaho Parks and Recreation, and Klim to install new beacon checkers at the trailhead in Island Park. Great work to the team! Photos: GNFAC

  • Fugawee Snowmobile Club Assembling New Beacon Checkers. Photo: Kent

  • Went to do maintenance on the Sawtelle Snowfall weather station at 8800 ft just off the Sawtelle Mountain Road. Continuous snowcover starts around 8000 ft. At 8800 ft there is ~20" of snow with a mix of hard crusts and weak facets. These weak layers near the ground will be something to watch once snows again. Photo: GNFAC

  • Went to do maintenance on the Sawtelle Snowfall weather station at 8800 ft just off the Sawtelle Mountain Road. Continuous snowcover starts around 8000 ft. At 8800 ft there is ~20" of snow with a mix of hard crusts and weak facets. These weak layers near the ground will be something to watch once snows again. Photo: GNFAC

  • Went to do maintenance on the Sawtelle Snowfall weather station at 8800 ft just off the Sawtelle Mountain Road. Continuous snowcover starts around 8000 ft. At 8800 ft there is ~20" of snow with a mix of hard crusts and weak facets. These weak layers near the ground will be something to watch once snows again. Photo: GNFAC

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

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

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

  • Get your tickets and online bid for items HERE!

Videos- Island Park

Snowpit Profiles- Island Park

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Island Park

Extended Forecast for

10 Miles ESE Lakeview MT

Winter Weather Advisory until March 28, 09:00pmClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Weather Advisory
  •  Winter Weather Advisory until March 28, 09:00pm

    NOW until
    9:00pm Thu

    Winter Weather Advisory

  • This
    Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Snow showers likely. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible.  Patchy blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Breezy, with a south southwest wind around 23 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.

    Heavy Snow
    and Patchy
    Blowing Snow

    High: 31 °F

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Snow showers likely before 9pm, then a chance of snow between 9pm and midnight. Some thunder is also possible.  Patchy blowing snow before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 6 to 11 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Snow Showers
    Likely and
    Patchy
    Blowing Snow

    Low: 15 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly after noon.  Partly sunny, with a high near 28. South wind 6 to 11 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    High: 28 °F

  • Friday
    Night

    Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. South wind 6 to 8 mph becoming northeast after midnight.

    Mostly Cloudy
    then Slight
    Chance Snow

    Low: 17 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: A 50 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Northeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    High: 32 °F

  • Saturday
    Night

    Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. West southwest wind around 9 mph becoming north northeast after midnight.  Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    Chance Snow

    Low: 19 °F

  • Sunday

    Sunday: Snow likely, mainly after noon.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. North wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Snow Likely

    High: 31 °F

  • Sunday
    Night

    Sunday Night: A chance of snow before midnight.  Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. North wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

    Chance Snow
    then Partly
    Cloudy

    Low: 17 °F

The Last Word

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