Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
Fresh wind slabs and small, dry loose avalanches may be reactive to rider triggers.
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.
- Use caution in lee areas. Wind loading may have formed new wind slabs.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, natural dry loose and soft slab avalanches were reported up to size 1. With forecast strong ridgetop wind, isolated wind slab and dry loose avalanche activity may occur through the weekend.
Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10 cm of new, low density snow now sits on a variety of old snow surfaces exist throughout the region. Isolated wind slabs may be found on easterly aspects in the alpine. Windward slopes have been scoured down to the old rain crust or rock and sun crusts have formed on southerly slopes. In sheltered treeline and below treeline terrain, very large feathery surface hoar and surface facets (sugary snow) exist, likely providing decent riding conditions. These crystals do not pose hazard to us now, but once they get buried by new snow they can form a weak layer that may be reactive later.
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 70-110 cm.
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperatures -7 and freezing levels at valley bottom. Ridgetop wind moderate from the west.
Sunday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures near -8. Ridgetop wind light with strong gusts from the west.
Monday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures near -9. Ridgetop wind light from the southwest.
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The new snow will likely have a poor bond to the old snow surfaces. Fresh wind slabs may form on leeward slopes and dry loose avalanches are possible.