By Marcie Hahn-Knoff
This winter, backcountry users will have a new source of weather data in the Taylor Fork, in the Madison Range south of Big Sky. The seasonal station will provide hourly real time data via satellite to internet on temperature, relative humidity, average wind speed, max wind speed and wind direction. It will compliment the Carrot Basin SNOTEL site and give a more encompassing picture of conditions in the area.
Installed by the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center this fall, the Taylor Fork weather station was purchased with funds raised by the Friends of the GNFAC. It will be a resource for the avalanche center, area ski patrols, and for recreational backcountry users. It is one of four similar stations, which are meant to provide weather data, especially wind information, for popular, high use backcountry areas near Cooke City, Lionhead and Hyalite.
The weather stations can be accessed by the general public off of the GNFAC website at mtavalanche.com/weather
The Friends of the GNFAC are a 501-C-3 non-profit dedicated to supporting avalanche education and awareness in Southwest Montana. They also provide the avalanche center with tools to better forecast avalanche and weather conditions. Their annual fundraiser, the Powderblast, is tonight in Bozeman. Don’t miss out on the fun!
