Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
Triggering wind slabs remain a possibility. Seek sheltered terrain and shady aspects for decent riding conditions.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
- Be careful with wind loaded areas, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, avalanche control using explosives produced avalanches up to size 1. On Monday, loose wet avalanche activity was observed from steep S-SW slopes up to size 1.
Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
A variety of snow surfaces exist throughout the region. Stiff wind slabs sit on a wide range of aspects on alpine and exposed treeline slopes. In sheltered treeline and below treeline terrain, I suspect light amounts of low-density snow intermingle with surface hoar and surface facets.
Roughly 30-60 cm below the surface you'll likely find a hard crust that was buried near the end of November. This crust is approximately 30 cm thick and extends from 1600 m to mountain top on all aspects. Below this crust, the snowpack is moist to ground. Average snowpack depths at treeline elevations in the region range from 80-120 cm.
Weather Forecast
Fairly benign weather pattern for the forecast period.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Alpine temperatures near -4 and freezing levels at valley bottom. Ridgetop winds light from the west.
Wednesday: Cloudy with possible sunny breaks. Alpine temperatures near -5 with light west winds.
Thursday: Mainly cloudy. Alpine temperatures near -7 with ridgetop winds light west.
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Variable winds from last week have formed wind slabs on a wide range of aspects at higher elevations.