Lawinenlagebericht

Swan Range

Flathead Avalanche Center
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Kernpunkte

Low avalanche danger is a great time to reinforce your party's safe travel protocols. Today, north aspects still hold soft snow, while sunny slopes will begin to soften to carvable conditions. Timing is key. Pay attention to warming surface snow and be ready to adjust your plans, accordingly.  Moving to shaded aspects in the afternoon or making an early exit are ways to avoid wet snow instabilities.

Avalanche Discussion

We received one report of a failing cornice in the Flathead Range and no human-triggered avalanches on Tuesday, thanks largely to cool ambient daytime air temperatures. In addition to this sunny but cooler weather, solar aspects have been through several days of a melt-freeze cycle and thus limiting today’s wet avalanche activity. The general consensus of yesterday’s (Tuesday) observations report that overnight temperatures froze the warmed surface snow on sunny aspects into a hard crust. This supportable crust made for speedy travel conditions and likely stayed firm, except for the true south-facing slopes. Many riders reported finding unconsolidated soft snow on northerly shaded aspects, which is great news to have dry snow stashes on March 22nd.

For today, the forecast calls for another day of mostly sunny skies. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and keep in mind that spring conditions warrant caution around three avalanche problems associated with solar radiation and increasing temperatures.

  • Wet Loose
    • Warming surface snow that becomes wet increases the instability of the snowpack. Avoiding confined terrain or gullies that could catch and carry you into places you don't want to go. Rollerballs or pinwheels are good clues that the snow is becoming more unstable.
  • Cornices
    • Large cornices hanging over ridgeline slopes tend to fail during the heat of the day and deserve a wide berth, both from below and while traveling along ridges.
  • Glide cracks
    • Glide cracks continue to be reported throughout the region and are expected to widen as the whole snowpack slides over the wet, smooth ground below. Staying away from glide cracks and out from under them is the best and only travel advice.

 

FOFAC Event: March 30th, 2023– Whether you're chasing tan lines, big lines, or both, you'll learn something valuable from FAC Lead Forecaster Mark Dundas about spring avalanche problems, how they differ from winter problems, and how to manage them. We will also discuss current conditions and concerns (or lack thereof!) with our spring snowpack. Enjoy a cold brew from Bias Brewing and a scoop from Sweet Peaks Ice Cream. The event is free and open to everyone. Begins at 6 pm.

FOFAC Recording March 15th, 2023-- Cam's State of the Snowpack link here

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