Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
Storm slabs will likely build throughout the day. A MODERATE hazard may be the story in the am, but strong easterly winds and new snow is driving the danger to CONSIDERABLE in the alpine for the afternoon.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
- Avoid large slopes and convex features.
- Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and tree line, especially south / west facing slopes.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Loose wet avalanches may occur at lower elevations due to rain and rising freezing levels. Watch for moist or wet snow and natural avalanches.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, several natural loose wet releases from sunny aspects and loose dry from northerly aspects were reported up to size 1. The avalanche hazard will rise with forecast wind and precipitation.
Snowpack Summary
Forecast new snow will likely have a poor bond to the plethora of old snow surfaces including a melt-freeze crust on sunny aspects, or surface hoar on north aspects above 1500 m. Isolated wind slabs just below ridgetop exist on northeasterly aspects and moist snow surfaces are found below 1500 m.
Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December and late-November weak layers are composed of crusts and sugary facets, which are down 150-300 cm. These layers are currently dormant.
Weather Forecast
Thursday: 10-20 mm expected and accompanied by strong easterly winds. Alpine temperatures near plus 1 with freezing levels 1800 m.
Friday: Mainly cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow. Alpine temperatures near -2 and freezing levels dropping to 1300 m. Ridgetop winds light with strong gusts from the southwest.
Saturday: Mainly cloudy with 5 cm of new snow. Alpine temperatures near -3 and freezing levels 1300 m. Ridgetop winds light from the southwest.
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The new storm snow may not bond well to the plethora of underlying surfaces, especially where it sits on a slippery melt-freeze crust or surface hoar on northerly aspects in upper elevations.