Avalanche forecast

Lizard-Flathead

Apr 13 – 14, 2021Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Plan your day around avoiding sun exposed slopes and lingering wind slabs.

Danger will progressively increase as the days get warmer and sunnier. Read more in this Forecasters' Blog.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Watch for pockets of unstable snow on steep exposed slopes.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–2.5

    Strong solar radiation and warming may trigger the large cornices that hang over ridgelines.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Expect natural wet loose avalanches to occur on solar aspects when the sun comes out.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, 40 km/h northeast wind, freezing level drop to valley bottom with treeline temperatures dropping to -5 C.

WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, 40 km/h northeast wind, freezing level to 1800 m with treeline temperatures around -1 C.

THURSDAY: Sunny with a few clouds, light northeast wind, freezing level climbing to 2200 m with treeline temperatures reaching +3 C.

FRIDAY: Sunny, light northeast wind, freezing level climbing to 2600 m with treeline temperatures reaching +6 C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported since the weekend. On Sunday a few size 1-1.5 human triggered slab avalanches were reported, including a storm slab on a north-facing convexity at treeline near Corbin and a 30 cm thick natural slab avalanche on a steep east-facing slope in the Lizard Range.

Snowpack Summary

North alpine terrain has roughly 30 cm of settling powder with wind slabs possible on steep exposed slopes. Other terrain is undergoing a melt-freeze cycle with successive days of warm sunny weather. The snowpack is overall strong and settled, although intense warming later this week could potentially weaken deeper layers in shallow rocky terrain. The snow line is slowly creeping up the mountains to roughly 1400 m in elevation. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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