Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 13th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.

dsaly, Avalanche Canada

Lizard-Flathead, Moyie, Flathead, Lizard.

Continually assess the snowpack for signs of instability with dynamic weather conditions.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity has been reported in the region.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Wet flurries and high freezing levels produced moist surface snow up to 2000 m on Friday. Above 0 C temperatures were reported above 2100 m. As temperatures cool a crust will form. Isolated flurries through Saturday are not expected to accumulate beyond 5 cm.

A widespread melt-freeze crust is buried 50-90 cm. This crust ranges in thickness from 1 cm at higher elevations to 20 cm thick at lower elevations. Below the crust, the mid-snowpack is settled and consolidated.

A crust and facet layer is down 70-150 cm. Below the crust, the basal snowpack is weak and faceted. Treeline snow depths average 150-200 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Isolated wet flurries, trace accumulation. Moderate southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline low temperatures -6 C. Freezing level falling to 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm. Light and gusty southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures around 0 C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm. Light south ridgetop winds. Treeline high temperatures -1 C, freezing level 1500 m.

Monday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. Light southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline high temperatures -3 C, freezing level 1100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Triggering of deep weak layers remains possible in terrain with shallow, variable snowpacks. Where supportive to riders, a melt-freeze crust may be providing a bridging effect, making it more difficult to trigger deeper layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 14th, 2023 4:00PM