Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.
- Minimize exposure to overhead hazard from cornices.
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Summary
It has been fairly quiet the last couple of days, with only reports of explosives triggering small storm slabs.
Snowpack Summary
You are likely to find variable surfaces in open terrain after recent strong winds took out their fury on the upper snowpack. Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Ongoing cold temperatures are helping to break down and soften these.
A crust/surface hoar interface is about 40-60 cm down, but is spotty in distribution. In sheltered areas where the surface hoar exists, it is reactive in snowpack tests. Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 120-200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load.
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level at valley floor. Light to moderate winds.
SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, with a few flurries possible. Freezing level at valley floor. Light to moderate winds.
SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, with a few flurries possible. Freezing level at valley floor. Light to moderate winds.
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Wind slabs can be found on many slopes at treeline and above.