Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
Precipitation should fall with strong winds and with a freezing level around treeline. Expect wind slabs in exposed terrain features and wet snow at low elevations. Watch your overhead exposure, as cornice falls could trigger slabs on slopes below.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use extra caution on slopes if snow becomes moist or wet with sun exposure.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
- Watch for reverse wind loading. Intense snow transport from northeast winds was observed Wednesday.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Precipitation may fall as rain at low elevations. Be cautious if you feel moist snow on the surface, as loose wet avalanches could be reactive.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
- Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, large (size 2 to 3) wind slabs were observed in the region, being triggered naturally and by explosive control. They were generally on easterly aspects, 20 to 30 cm deep, and at treeline and alpine elevations.
Cornices have also been reactive this week, with numerous releases from natural and explosive triggers.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs exist on all aspects, produced from redistribution of last weekend’s storm snow from variable wind directions. This snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on sunny aspects and all aspects below 1600 m, as well as surface hoar on north aspects above 1600 m. At ridgetop, cornices are large and have been failing in the past days. At lower elevations, expect to find moist snow on the surface with daytime warming and potential rainfall, which will freeze into a crust with cooler overnight temperatures.
Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December and late-November weak layers are composed of crusts and sugary facets, which are down 150 to 300 cm. These layers are currently considered dormant but may be awoken by a large trigger, such as a cornice fall.
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, moderate to strong westerly winds, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1500 m.
SATURDAY: Sunny with a few clouds, light easterly winds, alpine temperature -10 C, freezing level 1000 m.
SUNDAY: Increasing clouds with light snowfall, moderate southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1600 m.
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Winds from variable directions have produced wind slabs in exposed terrain features. Be particularly cautious when travelling below corniced ridges, as a cornice could trigger wind slabs on slopes below.