Avalanche forecast

Lizard-Flathead

Jan 20 – 21, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Highlights

Look for wind slabs on all aspects in the alpine. Temperatures are expected to slowly warm, expect this to increase the sensitivity of wind slabs to human triggering.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    10-20 cm of recent new snow and wind switching from northerly to southwest is continuing to build wind slabs over weak faceted snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Reports on Wednesday and Thursday showed several explosives triggered and natural storm slab, wind slab and dry loose avalanches running to size 1 and 1.5.

If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Recent new snow has accumulated over faceted surfaces in many areas. A weak layer of facets above a melt-freeze crust is found down 60 to 100 cm.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well bonded with a series of crusts and faceted snow.

The average snow depth at treeline is approximately 110 to 190 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday

Mainly cloudy with 1-3 cm of snow, west and southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -11 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 1-5 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -8 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 5-10 cm of snow,, southwest alpine wind 20 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 1-3 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

Regions covered