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Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

General Avalanche Information

This is an archived product. View the most recent forecast.

Author: Zachary Miller

Issued: Friday, April 24, 2026 at 7:28 AM MDT

Expires: Monday, April 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM MDT

The Bottom Line

After 3-10" of new snowfall this week, be on the lookout for cracking or collapsing as evidence of unstable snow. Cool temperatures and light snow flurries will do little to change the avalanche equation over the next few days. Keeping your senses primed for changing conditions or unexpected hazards is the best way to play it safe in the mountains this weekend.

We will update this product on  Monday, April 27th.

Forecast Discussion

Up to 10" of new snow fell in the mountains this week, and another couple are expected to trickle in this weekend. This most likely created new-snow problems, such as wind slabs, depending on how well it bonded to the old surfaces. Colder temperatures are expected to preserve these softer snow surfaces into early next week. Cracking and collapsing are clear signs that you've found unstable slabs of snow and should look for softer, more powdery slopes to ride and slide on. These are the avalanche problems we'd expect to see over the next few days:

Wind Slab Avalanches: In areas where you find more than 6" of recent new snow accumulated, expect to find fresh wind slabs near cornices and ridgelines, on the sides of cross-loaded gullies, and in alpine cirques. The new slabs could overlie weak faceted snow or thin crusts that formed during clear days/nights on some slopes, making avalanches wider and easier to trigger than you might expect. Watch for drifts, dunes, and smooth pillows of snow, signs the wind has been at work. Cracks shooting out from your boards or sled are a clear sign you've found a sensitive slab.

Dry Loose Avalanches:  On very steep slopes that have accumulated 6 or more inches of recent fresh snow, natural and human-triggered loose snow avalanches (sluffs) are more likely. Think about where these small but pushy avalanches might take you, especially in exposed terrain, before committing to riding a slope. Expect direct sunshine to quickly initiate small, natural, loose avalanches when it pops out, especially near rocky outcrops and cliffs.

Recent Observations: 

SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE GENERAL INFORMATION

Some basic points to remember until you put the sleds and boards away for the summer:

  • Spring weather can rapidly alter snow conditions and snow stability. Think minutes and hours rather than days and weeks.
  • Storm slab and wind slab avalanches are most likely during and immediately following a storm. 
  • Short periods of sunshine after a snowstorm can quickly create wet loose avalanche instabilities.
  • Keep wet slab avalanches in mind, especially during rain events and when we go days without the temperature dropping below freezing. Many shady, upper elevation slopes have not yet gone through a "spring transition". Travel cautiously in this terrain when rain or hot, sunny spells push meltwater deeper into the snowpack. 
  • Give cornices a wide berth and don’t linger beneath them. 
  • Complicated, consequential terrain doesn’t get less complex or serious in the spring and summer. Respect the mountains, maintain safe travel procedures, and keep your guard up.

OBSERVATIONS

Even though we’re done issuing forecasts, we’ll continue posting observations when we get out in the mountains. We encourage you to do the same. Please let everyone know what you’re seeing out there, especially if you see or trigger any avalanches. We’re always trying to collect as much information as possible about large wet slab avalanches (where, when, etc); let us know if you come across any of these beasts in your travels. There are several ways to stay connected and to share what you see:

Submit an Observation:

 

View Observations:

Mountain Weather

Author: Zachary Miller

Issued: Friday, April 24, 2026 at 7:06 AM MDT

We sit at the southern edge of a lingering low-pressure system set up to our north that will transition eastward as another longer trough rolls overhead this weekend. This will draw in cool northern air over the forecast period and result in various brief, light snow showers and generally weakening winds in the mountains.

Friday: This is forecast to be the coldest day of the next few, with temperatures climbing into the low to mid 20s F at 9,000'. Light to moderate winds will blow from the NW and N throughout the day. Mostly cloudy skies, especially in areas north of Galena Summit, should be expected with light flurries of snow accumulating a trace to 2" by nightfall. Temperatures are expected to drop into the low teens F overnight with continued light intermittent snowfall and mostly clear skies.

Saturday: Temperatures will climb into the low to mid 30s F with mostly clear skies, and light S winds are expected to blow. A trace to 1" of snow may fall in small intermittent flurries throughout the day. Cloud cover will build from the south, moving northward, starting in the evening and increasing overnight. There is a small chance of additional snowfall and temperatures dropping into the mid to low 20s F Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Sunday: The skies are expected to clear out with temperatures climbing back into the mid 30s F with light to moderate W winds blowing. Overnight temperatures will again drop into the low to mid 20s F.

Monday: A small chance of a snowfall is possible with temperatures climbing into the mid 30s F and light to moderate W winds blowing.

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Check our Weather Stations page to view remote weather station data year-round. 

We'll continue updating our Storm Totals page so you can easily see how much snow, or rain, falls in the forecast area. 

Our Weather Tools page provides links to help you dial in your mountain weather forecast. 

 

This information is provided by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and describes general backcountry avalanche hazard and conditions. It does not apply to ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation is conducted.