Avalanche danger decreased

The onset of warmer, dryer conditions, has led the Glacier Country Avalanche Center to rate the avalanche danger as “moderate” across the region between 5,000 and 7,500 feet and “low” below 5,000 feet.

The center said that weak weather disturbances were expected shift across the region with a northwest flow aloft persisting through Wednesday with high pressure and a warmer air mass developing Thursday through Saturday.

“The snowpack in general is strengthening with this early winter warming and subsequent settling but spatial variability exists and new bed surfaces are available,” the advisory states. “Investigate to just below midpack on deeper snowpacks and on shallow snowpacks, around ridges and rock outcrops, investigate to the ground surface with stress tests to identify deep instability associated with lingering large old faceted grains.”

The center cautioned that unanticipated weather changes such as wind, a marked temperature increase, or precipitation beyond forecast amounts can increase the avalanche danger. Local variations may also exist.

The next avalanche advisory will be on Friday,  Jan 16, 2009.

For more information call 257-8402 or visit http://www.glacieravalanche.org