Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 15th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.

dsaly, Avalanche Canada

Lizard-Flathead, Moyie, Flathead, Lizard.

Continue to practice good travel habits: regroup in safe locations, limit the number of people exposed to avalanche terrain, and be suspicious of shallow or rocky ridges and start zones.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Wet loose avalanches were reported Friday and Saturday up to 1900 m with warm temperatures.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

High freezing levels over the weekend produced moist surface snow up to 2000 m, now a crust and under a trace of recent flurries.

A crust/facet layer is down 50-90 cm (and 2-15 cm thick at TL elevation), below the mid-pack is settled and consolidated.

Another crust/facet layer is down 70-150 cm. Below this crust, the basal snowpack is weak and faceted. Treeline snow depths average 120-250 cm.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low temperature below -6 C. Freezing level falling to valley bottom.

Monday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -3 C. Freezing level as high as 1500 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with sunny breaks and isolated flurries. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -6 C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Wednesday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -5 C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Weak, faceted grains make up the basal snowpack. Where supportive to riders, a melt-freeze crust may be providing a bridging effect, making it more difficult to trigger deeper layers. Triggering an avalanche this deep will likely be large and destructive. Be especially suspicious of shallow or cross-loaded areas with variable snow depths.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 16th, 2023 4:00PM