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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 11th, 2025–Mar 12th, 2025

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Flathead, Lizard.

Carefully assess bond of new snow to underlying surfaces, take extra caution transitioning into wind affected terrain.

Hazard will increase through the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend, explosive avalanche control and natural cornice fall continue to produced numerous slab avalanches up to size 2 in north through east facing alpine terrain.

Avalanches on buried weak layers may be difficult to trigger, but if one is triggered, it is likely to be large and destructive.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 16 cm of new snow is moderately redistributed by southwest winds.

Below 1900 m, and on solar aspects, this sits on a surface crust from recent sun and warming.

At treeline and above, the new snow falls on 10-30 cm of snow that has been redistributed by predominantly southwest wind.

A weak layer of preserved surface hoar or facets from late January is buried 80 to 130 cm. This weak layer remains a concern where there is no thick, supportive crust under the recent snow.

The lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mainly cloudy, with up to 8 cm of new snow. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Wednesday

Mainly cloudy, with up to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Thursday

Mainly cloudy, with up to 15 cm of snow. 25 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

Friday

Mainly cloudy, with up to 2 cm of snow. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

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.