Avalanche Forecast
Lizard Range and Flathead
Deep powder offers excellent riding in many areas, but there's a highly variable weak layer that warrants cautious terrain choices. Read this forecasters' blog for more details.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features.
- Choose well supported terrain without convexities.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
A variable weak layer buried approximately 60 cm below the surface will likely remain sensitive to human-triggered avalanches in areas with stiffer snow. Sheltered areas with steep, unsupported terrain are the most likely places to be caught.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
Avalanche Summary
A natural avalanche cycle was observed in alpine terrain on Friday with storm slabs up to size 2 (typically 20-40 cm deep). Explosive avalanche control triggered similar sized avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
Around 50 to 80 cm recent new snow now rests on a variety of old surfaces. These old surfaces include crusts on south through west facing slopes, wind-scoured slopes and, in sheltered terrain at and below treeline, large feathery surface hoar crystals. Lower in the snowpack, you should be able to find a hard crust that was buried near the end of November. This crust is approximately 30 cm thick and extends from 1600 m to mountain top on all aspects. Average snowpack depths at treeline in the region range from 100 to 140 cm.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Dry and sunny, moderate northwest winds, temperatures around -15 C.
SUNDAY: Sunny with increasing clouds, light northwest winds, temperatures around -15 C.
MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northwest winds, temperatures around -18 C.
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Low density snow and sustained alpine winds are a recipe for touchy wind slabs in exposed terrain.