Lizard

More snow and rain fell last night than expected!

Avoid exposure to avalanche terrain, natural avalanches are expected.

We expect natural avalanches within the storm snow on Tuesday.

By Tuesday morning, storm totals have reached over 80 cm in the high alpine. Higher elevations are likely heavily wind affected, with deep and reactive deposits. Lower elevations are likely rain soaked. Exact snow/rain line through the night is unknown.

A layer of faceted snow or surface hoar sits in the upper snowpack, with a crust from mid November buried 60–90 cm deep. Lower in the snowpack, there are several crusts, and in some areas, weak, sugary facets can be found near the ground.

Snowpack depths range from 80–150 cm and thin rapidly at lower elevations. Many slopes at treeline and below may reach threshold for avalanche activity with this storm.

Monday Night
Cloudy. 20 to 35 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
• Don't let storm day fever lure you into consequential terrain.
• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
• Be cautious of buried obstacles, especially below treeline.