Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
Watch for wind slabs in exposed terrain features at higher elevations. Although a cool day is forecasted, assess snowpack warming on southerly aspects from the sun. Also watch your overhead exposure, as cornice falls could trigger slab avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for wind slabs on all aspects due to variable wind directions.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind-loaded snow.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices, which could trigger slabs on slopes below.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, a few loose dry avalanches occurred in steep and rocky alpine terrain on sun-exposed aspects.
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
Around 5 to 10 cm of snow fell on Friday. Wind slabs may linger on all aspects at higher elevations, produced from the redistribution of last weekend’s storm snow with 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 few days. At low elevations, expect to find a surface crust or moist snow on southerly aspects.
Deeper in the snowpack, the late-November weak layer is composed of weak and sugary facets around a crust, which is buried around 200 to 300 cm and considered dormant.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Sunny, light westerly winds, alpine temperature -10 C, freezing level rising to 1000 m.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with light afternoon snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level 1000 m.
MONDAY: Cloudy with morning snowfall, accumulation 10 cm, light northeasterly winds, alpine temperature -12 C, freezing level 700 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.
Wind slabs exist in exposed terrain features. Assess the snow for slab properties and the bond with underlying layers. Be particularly cautious when travelling on or below ridges, as cornices are weak and they could trigger slabs on slopes below.