Avalanche forecast

Lizard-Flathead

Mar 5 – 6, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable

Highlights

⚠️Dangerous avalanche conditions⚠️

Stick to low-angle terrain and be mindful of overhead hazard. Human-triggered and remote-triggered avalanches remain likely.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3.5

    A weak layer of faceted grains above a melt-freeze crust buried roughly 100 to 200 cm deep is a recipe for large, high-consequence avalanches. This snowpack setup will take some time to strengthen.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Snow continues to accumulate into thick storm slabs. These slabs have loaded various weak layers and sliding surfaces in the upper snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural, skier, and explosive-triggered avalanches up to size 3.5 have been a daily occurrence since last week. Several of these avalanches have failed on or scrubbed down to the crust/facet layer buried early in February.

Snowpack Summary

Over 100 cm of snow has accumulated over the last week in most areas. This new snow may sit atop various weak layers, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, and a thin melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes

A widespread crust with faceted grains above, formed in early February is buried approximately 100 to 200 cm deep. This layer continues to produce many concerning avalanches across the province.

The remainder of the snowpack below the crust is generally well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 15 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Wednesday

Sunny. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Thursday

Sunny. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Regions covered