Lizard-Flathead Avalanche Forecast — Mar 9, 2019

Highlights

Avalanche danger is low, but don't let your guard down, especially if you are pushing into aggressive terrain.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Unlikely - Possible
Size
1–1.5
Small wind slabs are confined to aggressive terrain in exposed areas.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: No precipitation. Calm winds.SATURDAY: Dry and sunny. Daytime treeline temperatures around -3C. Calm.SUNDAY: Dry and sunny. Daytime treeline temperatures around -1C. Calm.MONDAY: Dry and sunny. Daytime treeline temperatures around 0C. Light southwesterly winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Friday. Small loose wet avalanches are likely on south-facing slopes. Slab avalanches are likely to be confined to extreme terrain features under current conditions.

Snowpack Summary

Light new snow amounts have buried a mix of hard and soft wind slabs in open alpine terrain as well as pockets of soft snow in sheltered and shaded areas. The new snow has also buried widespread sun crusts of varying thickness on south-facing slopes.There are three layers of surface hoar that have the potential to remain preserved 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 are most likely to be found between 1600 and 1900 m. The recent prolonged period of cold temperatures has been transforming the upper and mid snowpack into sugary, faceted grains, progressively eliminating the properties of a stiff overlying slab above these weak layers and diminishing concern for their potential to produce avalanches.The lower snowpack is maintaining strength in deeper snowpack areas.

Avalanche danger