Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
Mild temperatures are expected in the morning followed by a cooling trend over the day. The best riding will be in areas sheltered from the warming and wind effects.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
High freezing levels, morning sun, and possible afternoon rain will warm the snowpack on all aspects. Pay close attention to the moisture of the snow surface and avoid overhead exposure. This problem will be reduced when the snow surface is frozen.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for signs that the snow is moistening such as pin-wheeling and point-releases below cliffs.
- Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where small avalanches can have high consequence.
Avalanche Summary
Widespread loose wet avalanche activity to size 1.5 was observed on southerly slopes on Monday and Tuesday. Explosive control of cornices produced size 2 to 2.5 releases with no slabs released below.
Snowpack Summary
Warm air temperatures and daytime sun have produced moist snow on all aspects. With dropping freezing levels, the moist snow will harden into a melt-freeze crust. On shady aspects at high elevations, lingering wind slabs in lee features and loose dry in sheltered features may still exist. These snow surfaces are sitting on patchy surface hoar in parts of the region.
Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December and late November weak layers are composed of crusts and sugary facets which are down 200-300 cm. These layers have been dormant but may be awoken by a large trigger, such as a falling cornice.
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY: Morning sun and afternoon clouds with light snowfall at higher elevations and rain below, accumulation 1 to 2 mm, moderate southwesterly winds, alpine temperature 2 C, freezing level 2500 m dropping to 1500 m midday.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, light northwesterly winds, alpine temperature 0 C, freezing level 1500 m.
FRIDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, light northeasterly winds, alpine temperature 0 C, freezing level 1500 m.
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Wind slabs may linger in immediate lee slopes. Use caution when entering terrain features off ridges.