Avalanche forecast

Lizard-Flathead

Mar 23 – 24, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate

Highlights

15 to 20 cm of recent low density snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.

Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the recent snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3.5

    A crust with weak facets above is down 80 to 200 cm. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    15 to 20 cm of recent low density snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Small naturally triggered wet loose avalanches will begin when the recent snow sees the sun for the first time.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several rider triggered dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 20 cm of recent low density snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain. This snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces, except for northerly aspects at upper elevations.

A widespread, hard crust with facets above is buried 80 to 120 cm down in the South Rockies and up to 200 cm in the Lizard range. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer. However, when a thick surface crust is present, human triggering this layer is unlikely.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Cloudy with flurries, 3 to 10 cm. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Monday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for additional weather information.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
  • Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.

Regions covered