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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 18th, 2024–Jan 19th, 2024

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard.

Look for wind slabs on a variety of aspects as the wind switches from northwest to southwest on Friday.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Reports on Wednesday and Thursday showed several explosives triggered and natural storm slab, wind slab and dry loose avalanches running to size 1 and 1.5.

If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Recent new snow has accumulated over faceted surfaces in many areas. A weak layer of facets above a melt-freeze crust is found down 60 to 100 cm.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well bonded with a series of crusts and faceted snow.

The average snow depth at treeline is approximately 110 to 190 cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, northwest alpine wind 15 to 35 km/h, treeline temperature -20 °C.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with 1-3 cm of snow, west and southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -11 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 1-3 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -8 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

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.