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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 3rd, 2026–Mar 4th, 2026

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

Regions

Flathead, Lizard, Moyie.

A reactive persistent weak layer remains the primary concern for the region - especially around treeline.

Retreat to more conservative terrain if you see signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.
  • We have higher uncertainty about treeline conditions due to persistent slabs.

Avalanche Summary

Tuesday
The field team felt whumpfing in the Flathead.

Monday
A skier triggered a size 1 persistent slab 50 cm deep. Wet loose sluffs were observed on sunny slopes.

Sunday
Explosives triggered several persistent slab avalanches, many at treeline 40 to 70 cm deep.

Saturday
Skiers remotely triggered a size 1.5 persistent slab from 30 m away while regrouping; it failed on surface hoar with a 55 cm crown depth.

Friday
Whumpfing & shooting cracks running 200 m were observed.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 4 mm of precipitation is in the forecast for Wednesday, and may fall as rain or snow at treeline.

Widespread wind effect at upper elevations left a variety of pressed surfaces, slabs, and sastrugi in open terrain. Solar-facing slopes and lower elevations likely have a surface crust.

Multiple weak layers of surface hoar and/or crusts/facets may exist in the upper meter of the snowpack; the most reactive is from late January, buried 40 to 90 cm deep. Most recent persistent slab avalanches failed on this surface hoar layer in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer has been less reactive recently near the ski hill, but riders continue to trigger it sporadically throughout the forecast region.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night
Cloudy. 0 to 2 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Wednesday
Cloudy. 0 to 2 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Friday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
  • Start on smaller terrain features and gather information before committing to bigger terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.