Lizard-Flathead

Watch for wind slabs lingering in steep open terrain and back off sun-exposed slopes when they heat up.

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy skies, 40-60 km/h northeast wind, freezing level drop to valley bottom with treeline temperatures dropping to -8 C.

TUESDAY: Mostly sunny, 40 km/h northeast wind, freezing level to 1500 m with treeline temperatures around -2 C.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny, 30 km/h northeast wind, freezing level to 1800 m with treeline temperatures around 0 C.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny, 30 km/h northeast wind, freezing level to 2300 m with treeline temperatures reach +4 C.

On Sunday a few size 1-1.5 human triggered slab avalanches were reported, including a storm slab on a north-facing convexity at treeline near Corbin. There was also a natural 30 cm thick slab on a steep east-facing slope in the Lizard Range and a size 1 skier triggered wet loose avalanche in a below treeline clearing.

While sunny weather is melting the surface on southerly slopes, gusty northeast wind could blow around recent snow at upper elevations and form wind slabs on lee features. Upper elevations have 30-40 cm of settling snow from recent storm, but exact amounts are variable throughout the region due to the convective nature of the spring weather. The recent snow is sitting on hard crusts on solar aspects and a mix of wind affected or soft surfaces on shady aspects. The mid-pack is firm and well settled. Some faceted snow and a decomposing melt-freeze crust can be found near the base of the snowpack that may become a concern later this week when things really warm up.

The snow line is slowly creeping up the mountains to roughly 1400 m in elevation. Check out this MIN report for more details on the access from common staging areas.

• Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.