Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 2nd, 2026–Mar 3rd, 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 possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Flathead, Lizard.

It's a challenging snowpack that requires conservative terrain selection.

Confidence

Moderate

We have higher uncertainty about treeline conditions due to persistent slabs.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, explosives triggered several persistent slab avalanches, many at treeline with 40 to 70 cm crowns.

On Saturday, skiers remotely triggered a size 1.5 avalanche from 30 m away while regrouping; it failed on surface hoar with a 55 cm crown depth.

On Friday, riders encountered extreme winds, whumpfing, and shooting cracks extending up to 200 m into lower-angle terrain. Snowpack tests found surface hoar buried 40-60 cm, with easy and reactive results.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread wind effect left a variety of pressed surfaces, slabs, and sastrugi in open terrain. Solar slopes have a crust and may turn moist during the day.

There are multiple weak layers of surface hoar and/or crusts/facets found in the upper 100 cm of the snowpack; the most reactive is 40 to 60 cm deep. The majority of recent persistent slab avalanches have been on well-preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. While this persistent weak layer has been difficult to find near the ski area, riders continue to find it throughout the forecast region.

The mid and lower snowpack are well settled.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Clear skies. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. 2 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Thursday

Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

In times of uncertainty, conservative terrain choices are our best defense.
Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.

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.