Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
Variable amounts of snow fell in the region, mostly at alpine elevations. Watch for signs of instability, such as cracking and avalanche activity. Use caution at low elevations if the snow surface is still wet.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline. Storm snow may form touchy slabs.
- Keep an eye out for localized areas of deeper snow accumulation, particularly on eastern slopes
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
High freezing levels and recent rain have moistened the snowpack at lower elevations. Use caution in terrain features where a small avalanche could have serious consequences.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where small avalanches can have high consequence.
- Watch for signs that the snow is moistening such as pin-wheeling and point-releases below cliffs.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, several small wet loose avalanches were reported on sunny aspects at all elevations. A size 1.5 natural cornice failure was also reported on a high north east facing ridge line, which did not trigger any slabs below.
Snowpack Summary
Variable but overall small amounts of new snow fell at high elevations and rain fell at low elevations. This landed on a melt-freeze crust produced with the recent warm air temperatures, sun, and rain. The crust exists everywhere except for possibly on shady aspects at high elevations. Expect to find wet snow at low elevations.
Deeper in the snowpack, the 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 cornice fall.
Weather Forecast
We're looking at seasonal temperatures and light snowfall accumulations in a north / easterly flow.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5-10 cm possible in eastern sections of the region, light northeasterly winds, alpine temperature +2 C, freezing level 1500 m.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 3 to 8 cm, light to moderate northerly winds, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level 1100 m.
MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, moderate westerly winds, alpine temperature +1 C, freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Lizard Range and Flathead URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/lizard-range.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Precipitation fell mostly as rain at lower elevations and snow at higher elevations. New snow may not bond well to underlying surfaces.