Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Lizard-Flathead.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
MONDAY NIGHT: Clear, light northeast wind, alpine temperatures drop to -15 C.TUESDAY: Sunny, light southeast wind, alpine high temperatures near -8 C.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulations, light southeast wind with moderate gusts, alpine high temperatures near -10 C.THURSDAY: Scattered flurries with 5-12 cm of snow, 30-50 km/h southwest wind, alpine high temperatures near -4 C.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, one small (size 1) skier triggered slab avalanche was reported on an east aspect at 1850 m. A few small (size 1) wind slab avalanches and loose dry sluffs were reported over the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Sheltered areas have 20-40 cm of low density snow on the surface while exposed terrain has been wind affected. Sun crusts can be found on the surface on south-facing slopes. There are potentially three layers of surface hoar in the upper snowpack. One is down 30-50 cm, another is down 40-80 cm, and the last one is down 80-120 cm. These layers have been most prominent and reactive between 1600 and 1900 m over the past month. The lower portion of the snowpack is generally strong.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Wind Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5