Avalanche conditions remain dangerous.
Stick to low angle, conservative terrain without overhead hazard.
Continued snowfall and warm temperatures are expected to stress buried weak layers. Small avalanches have the potential to step down and produce very large avalanches.
Reactive storm slabs will continue to build with more snow and wind forecast overnight Monday, and throughout Tuesday.
On Sunday, widespread avalanche activity was observed, naturally and human triggered to size 3. Avalanches were observed within the storm snow and on both buried persistent weak layers.
We expect natural activity to taper off, but human triggering will remain likely.
Storm totals are expected to reach 60 cm by Tuesday afternoon in the Lizard Range, and around 40 cm in the Flathead. West/southwest winds have redistributed this snow into deeper deposits at treeline and above. Below 1500 m precipitation mostly fell as rain.
A persistent weak layer of surface hoar or facets from late January is buried 70 to 100 cm deep. This layer is expected to be more reactive with the warming temperatures and new snow/ rain. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled.
Check out this MIN for an overview of conditions around Tunnel Creek.
Monday Night
Cloudy with 10 to 15 cm of snow expected, favoring the Lizard Range. Southwest ridgetop wind 30 to 40 km/h at ridgetop. Freezing levels around 1500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 10 to 15 cm of snow, again favoring the Lizard Range. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
Wednesday
Clear skies with 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise to 1700 m, with treeline temperatures around -2 °C.
Thursday
Clear skies with increasing afternoon cloud and wind. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise to 1800 m, with treeline temperatures around -2 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
