Lizard-Flathead

Slab avalanches are possible in areas with more than 20 cm of new snow, especially on wind-loaded terrain features.

Recent avalanche activity has primarily been small wet loose avalanches.

Expect wind and storm slab problems to develop over the weekend, especially in areas that received more than 20 cm of new snow.

New snow will gradually accumulate at upper elevations with scattered flurries across the Purcells and South Rockies over the weekend. Freezing levels will fluctuate between 1500 and 2200 m, so there will be a mix of rain and snow at treeline elevations. Slabs are most likely to form in lee alpine terrain.

The upper snowpack is a mix of hard snow and crusts. In terrain above 2000 m, old inactive weak layers may exist in the lower snowpack.

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow above 1500 m. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 20 cm of snow above 1500 m. 15 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow above 2000 m. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow above 1800 m. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.
• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
• Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.