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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 12th, 2024–Dec 13th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Flathead, Lizard, Moyie, St. Mary.

Watch for changing conditions as you gain elevation, small rider triggerable wind slabs may still be found at treeline and above.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity has tapered off since the past weekend’s storm. Explosive control on Monday and Tuesday produced size 1.5 wind slab avalanches. These slabs may still be triggerable by riders.

Snowpack Summary

Wind affected snow may be found in exposed terrain at higher elevations.

20 to 30 cm of snow sits over a mix of crusts, surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, and hard wind-affected surfaces. Reports suggest the recent snow is bonding well with the layers below.

Check out this MIN from the Purcell side of this region.

The middle of the snowpack is generally expected to be well-settled and stable. Total snow depths vary from 100 to 150 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mix of clear skies and cloud with trace amounts of snow expected. 5 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C, potential for temperature inversion with colder temperatures at lower elevations.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of snow expected. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C, potential temperature inversion with colder temperatures at lower elevations.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 15 cm of snow expected. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy in the morning and mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon. Up to 10 cm of snow possible by early morning. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.