Lizard-Flathead

Expect continued slab development and reactivity as the new snow settles and is affected by wind.

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Alpine temperatures near -25C. Ridgetop winds moderate from the east.MONDAY: Sunny with increasing cloud and isolated flurries in the evening, up to 5 cm. Alpine temperatures near -20C. Ridgetop winds moderate from the east-northeast.TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures near -22C. Ridgetop winds moderate from the northeast.WEDNESDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures near -15C. Ridgetop winds light from the east-northeast.

On Sunday, a skier triggered a size 1 storm slab avalanche on a north aspect around 2100 m. On Saturday, numerous natural and explosives triggered storm slab avalanches to size 2-2.5 were reported. These were 50-100 cm deep running on east through north aspects in the alpine and treeline. Loose, dry snow is sloughing in steeper terrain. Last Thursday, an explosive triggered a large (size 2.5) persistent slab avalanche. The slab was about 40 cm deep and failed on a southerly aspect between 1650 and 2000 m.

Up to 60 cm low density new snow is settling out and being redistributed by wind. The new snow sits on wind affected surfaces in the alpine and treeline. In sheltered areas, the new snow is burying faceted surface snow and possibly a layer of surface hoar. In sheltered areas between 1600 and 1800 m, another weak layer of surface hoar crystals buried around Valentines Day, is now 60-80 cm below the snow surface.Two more weak layers of surface hoar may be found within the snowpack. One buried early-February, is 80-100 cm deep in shaded and sheltered areas above 1600 m. The other buried mid-January, is 100-150 cm down and is most prominent between 1600 m and 1900 m.The remainder of the snowpack is well-settled.