Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
Recent snow will need time to stabilize and ongoing winds are likely to drive continued wind slab development.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Minimize exposure to overhead hazard from cornices.
- Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.
Avalanche Problem 2: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Storm snow will be especially sensitive to human triggers in steep or convex terrain.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Choose conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.
- Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- Avoid travelling on ledges and cliffs where sluffing may have severe consequences.
Avalanche Summary
A skier triggered a size 2 slab on a steep south-east facing slope near ridge crest at 1970 m on Saturday. It was 20-60 cm deep and failed on facets. Explosives testing produced several loose dry avalanches in steep terrain. A natural cornice fall triggered a size 2 wind slab on a north-east aspect.
A skier also remotely triggered a size 2 persistent slab on a north aspect at 1750 m. It failed on surface hoar, which is isolated in its distribution, but is most likely found on sheltered north aspects.
A developing wind slab problem was observed as winds picked up throughout the day. These problems are expected to continue to develop, and may be especially touchy in specific locations where they overlie buried persistent weak layers.
Snowpack Summary
New wind slabs are building quickly as available light dry snow is moved around by moderate to strong winds. Snow spillage from steep ground is also loading up fans. In more sheltered locations, you may encounter storm slabs or loose dry sluffing. These upper snowpack problems overlie various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar.
Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 130-220 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 like a cornice fall.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level near 600 m. Moderate westerly winds.
TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with flurries. Freezing level near 900 m. Moderate south-westerly winds.
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with flurries. Freezing level near 900 m. Moderate south-westerly winds.
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Touchy wind slabs can be found near ridges and ribs.