Avalanche forecast

Lizard-Flathead

Feb 24, 2019Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map

Highlights

Expect to continue to see reactive storm slabs on Sunday with the 50-60 cm of new snow that fell Friday night.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Two weak layers of surface hoar may be found between 1500 m and 1900 m, around 80-120 cm deep in the snowpack. These layers have been the culprit of recent large avalanches, particularly in openings such as cutblocks, gullies, and slide paths.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    Up to 60 cm of low density new snow fell Friday night. Expect this new snow to continue to be reactive as a storm slab as it settles.

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods / moderate east wind / alpine temperature -15MONDAY: A mix of sun and cloud / light to moderate east wind / alpine temperature -17TUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud / light northeast wind / alpine temperature -15

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural and explosives triggered storm slab avalanches to size 2 and 2.5 were reported on Saturday. These were 50-100 cm deep running on east through north aspects in the alpine and treeline.An explosive triggered a large (size 2.5) persistent slab avalanche on Thursday. It was on a southerly aspect and between 1650 and 2000 m. The slab was about 40 cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 60 cm of low density 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.

Regions covered