Avalanche Forecast

On Sunday there was a natural avalanche cycle in the Lizard Range, mostly size 2 but up to size 3. Avalanches were running within the storm snow but the odd sympathetic release suggests facets or surface hoar at the bottom of the recent snow (see Snowpack Section). This type of problem may linger.

Upper snowpack: consists of the 45 to 60 cm of snow over the past week. At the bottom of this recent snow is a layer of surface hoar. Take a look under the hood from Harvey Pass. ESPeters10 - thanks for sharing.Northeast winds (reverse loading) created pockets of wind slab in some non-typical places.

Lower Snowpack: sugary faceted snow and with a rain crust just above the ground.

Snowpack depths at treeline are 45 to 75 cm, and in the alpine 65 to 125 cm.

Monday NightLight northeast wind, temps in the minus teens to twenty. Dry.

TuesdayDry, minus twenties style cold, light variable wind becoming southwesterly late in the day.

Weak disturbance means overcast, southwesterly light to moderate wind, warming temperatures to near -10 C and 5 to 15 cm of snow. Wind is forecast to strengthen late in the day and overnight!

Light to moderate southwesterly wind, temperatures in the minus teens, trace to 10 cm of snow.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
• Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.