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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 11th, 2025–Feb 12th, 2025

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, South Rockies, Flathead, Lizard, Bull, Elkford West.

Continuously assess conditions as you move through the terrain.

Avalanches are possible where the upper snowpack feels "stiff and slabby".

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Small dry loose avalanches were observed in steep south facing terrain on Monday. No slab avalanches have been reported in a few days.

Rider triggering is possible where a stiffer slab exists above the late January buried weak layers.

If you head into the backcountry consider submitting a MIN post!

Snowpack Summary

50 cm of faceted snow overlies a weak layer from late January. This layer consists of a crust on sun exposed slopes and a layer of surface hoar on all other aspects. Exposed terrain in the alpine and treeline is variably wind-affected creating a stiffer slab above the weak layer. In turn, the stiffer slab may be easier to trigger under the weight of a human. In sheltered terrain, a layer of surface hoar may be found just below the surface.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled.

This MIN Report posted on Monday gives a quick snowpack update for the Lost Boys Pass Area.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with isolated flurries. 15 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud with a trace of new snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -17 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with new snow up to 5 cm. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to isolated wind affected features in the alpine, as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
  • Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.

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.

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.