Montana Avalanche Forecast — Live GNFAC, WCMAC & FAC Data
Real-time avalanche danger ratings for the Flathead, Swan, Bitterroot, and Seeley Swan zones from the Great Northern Flathead Avalanche Center, West Central Montana Avalanche Center, and Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center.
🟢
Low
0
No-Go
No-Go — Road closure: Going-to-the-Sun Road — no access
Montana · spring season
🌤️Weather
🚗Roads
⚠️Avy
🥾Trail
◌ Battlement Mesa, Cochetopa Hills, Elkhead Mountains, Elk Mountains +20 more No Rating
🏔️
The Crown of the Continent: North America's premier avalanche terrain.
Montana's mountains sit at the convergence of Pacific maritime and continental polar air masses, producing snowpacks with exceptional variability and persistent weak layers. The Flathead, Swan, Bitterroot, and Beartooth ranges consistently rank among the most avalanche-active terrain in the lower 48 states. Always carry rescue gear — beacon, probe, shovel — and travel with trained companions.
Avalanche Danger by Zone
GNFAC Zone
🟢
Low
GNFAC
Bitterroot
🟢
Low
WCMAC
Swan/Flathead
🟢
Low
FAC
Seeley Swan
◌
No Rating
WCMAC
Yaak
◌
No Rating
WCMAC
● Low● Moderate● Considerable● High
🔵 Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center (GNFAC) — Southwest Montana
7,000 ft
◌
No Rating
9,000 ft
◌
No Rating
11,000 ft
◌
No Rating
Bottom Line:
Start and end your day early, and most slopes will be safe to travel on. If you travel in steep, exposed terrain, avoid small pockets of wind-drifted snow or slopes with wet, heavy snow deeper than your ankles. Avoid travel under cornices, especially as the day warms.
Start and end your day early, and most slopes will be safe to travel on. If you travel in steep, exposed terrain, avoid small pockets of wind-drifted snow or slopes with wet, heavy snow deeper than your ankles. Avoid travel under cornices, especially as the day warms.
Start and end your day early, and most slopes will be safe to travel on. If you travel in steep, exposed terrain, avoid small pockets of wind-drifted snow or slopes with wet, heavy snow deeper than your ankles. Avoid travel under cornices, especially as the day warms.
Start and end your day early, and most slopes will be safe to travel on. If you travel in steep, exposed terrain, avoid small pockets of wind-drifted snow or slopes with wet, heavy snow deeper than your ankles. Avoid travel under cornices, especially as the day warms.
Start and end your day early, and most slopes will be safe to travel on. If you travel in steep, exposed terrain, avoid small pockets of wind-drifted snow or slopes with wet, heavy snow deeper than your ankles. Avoid travel under cornices, especially as the day warms.
Check WCMAC and
FAC for current avalanche activity reports.
Snowpack Analysis — MT SNOTEL StationsNRCS Data
Station
Depth
SWE
Temp
Precip
Zone Danger
Glasgow
—
—
—
—
◌ No Rating
Missoula
—
—
—
—
◌ No Rating
Billings
—
—
—
—
◌ No Rating
Helena
—
—
—
—
◌ No Rating
Frequently Asked Questions
Montana avalanche danger is provided by three regional centers: GNFAC (Bozeman/Beartooth area), WCMAC (Missoula/Bitterroot/Seeley Lake), and FAC (Glacier/Flathead). Check the danger mosaic above for the current rating for each zone. Danger is rated 1–5 (Low to Extreme). Current conditions are updated via the avalanche.org v2 API with up to 8-hour cache intervals.
The Flathead Avalanche Center (FAC) — not GNFAC — rates the Flathead, Swan, and Whitefish ranges. GNFAC covers the Gallatin, Bridger, Beartooth, and Madison ranges of southwest Montana. The two centers use the same 5-level North American danger scale, but issue forecasts for geographically distinct zones. Always verify which center covers your specific destination.
Primary avalanche season in Montana runs December through April, with the most active period typically January through March. In high elevation terrain above 9,000 ft, avalanche season can extend from November through May. The Beartooth and Bob Marshall Wilderness zones often see persistent weak layers that extend danger into April and May.
Rogers Pass (US-2 between Essex and Browning) falls within the Flathead Avalanche Center (FAC) zone. During active storm cycles, FDOT and USFS may trigger avalanches above the highway as part of known avalanche paths. Check the FAC forecast at flatheadavalanche.org before crossing the pass in winter. US-2 is closed seasonally in this area.
The Swan Range falls under the WCMAC (Missoula) forecast zone. Check missoulaavalanche.org for the current Swan Range rating. The Swan experiences significant persistent slab problems due to a continental snowpack that often preserves weak layers for extended periods. Elevation bands above 7,000 ft typically see elevated danger during and immediately after major storm events.
The North American Avalanche Danger Scale: Level 1 (Low) — generally safe conditions; Level 2 (Moderate) — heightened caution on steep terrain; Level 3 (Considerable) — dangerous avalanche conditions, conservative decision-making required; Level 4 (High) — very dangerous conditions, travel not recommended; Level 5 (Extreme) — avoid all avalanche terrain. Ratings apply to broad geographic zones and vary by aspect, elevation, and local terrain.
No. Considerable danger (Level 3) means human-triggered avalanches are likely on steep terrain. The Bob Marshall Wilderness contains extensive avalanche terrain including bowls, couloirs, and open slopes above treeline. Entering this terrain during Level 3 conditions without expert avalanche training and equipment is not recommended. The zone rating represents a broad area — specific aspects and elevations may be significantly more dangerous.
Skiing near Glacier National Park during High (Level 4) or Extreme (Level 5) danger is strongly discouraged. FAC forecasts for the Glacier zone indicate dangerous conditions across most elevations and aspects. Many ski routes in Glacier approach or cross avalanche terrain. Do not enter avalanche terrain — including lift-served backcountry accessed from Logan Pass or Sperry Chalet areas — during High or Extreme danger periods.
The Bitterroot Range is covered by the West Central Montana Avalanche Center (WCMAC). Current forecasts are available at missoulaavalanche.org. The Bitterroot experiences both storm slab and persistent slab problems, particularly on north and east aspects above 7,500 ft. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and Magruder Corridor areas have limited field observation — use the zone forecast conservatively and expect more variable conditions in the backcountry.
The Yaak Range (Cabinet Mountains, Yaak River drainage near Troy and Libby) is covered by WCMAC. The Yaak zone typically receives lighter snowfall than the Mission or Bitterroot ranges but has significant persistent slab concerns due to a shallow, cold snowpack. WCMAC issues forecasts for this zone less frequently than for the main Missoula/Bitterroot corridor — check the WCMAC site directly and treat any available forecast conservatively. Backcountry users in the Yaak should be self-sufficient with avalanche rescue equipment and training.
Data Sources: Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center (GNFAC) · West Central Montana Avalanche Center (WCMAC) · Flathead Avalanche Center (FAC). Data sourced via avalanche.org v2 API. Forecasts updated hourly with up to 8-hour cache windows. Always verify directly with the issuing center before entering avalanche terrain. Montana Recreation Responsibility Act (MCA § 27-1-736) applies to all backcountry use.
Avalanche Warning: Avalanche danger varies significantly by aspect, elevation, and local terrain traps. The ratings above represent broad geographic zones — not individual trails or drainages. PeakScout aggregates forecast data as an informational aid only. Always carry and know how to use avalanche rescue equipment and travel with trained companions. Montana Recreation Responsibility Act (MCA § 27-1-736) applies. Terms of Service · MT Winter Hub · Montana Home