Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Lizard-Flathead.
Fresh wind slabs and small, dry loose avalanches may be reactive to rider triggers.
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperatures -7 and freezing levels at valley bottom. Ridgetop wind moderate from the west.Sunday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures near -8. Ridgetop wind light with strong gusts from the west.Monday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures near -9. Ridgetop wind light from the southwest.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, natural dry loose and soft slab avalanches were reported up to size 1. With forecast strong ridgetop wind, isolated wind slab and dry loose avalanche activity may occur through the weekend. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10 cm of new, low density snow now sits on a variety of old snow surfaces exist throughout the region. Isolated wind slabs may be found on easterly aspects in the alpine. Windward slopes have been scoured down to the old rain crust or rock and sun crusts have formed on southerly slopes. In sheltered treeline and below treeline terrain, very large feathery surface hoar and surface facets (sugary snow) exist, likely providing decent riding conditions. These crystals do not pose hazard to us now, but once they get buried by new snow they can form a weak layer that may be reactive later. Roughly 30-60 cm below the surface you'll likely find a hard crust that was buried near the end of November. This crust is approximately 30 cm thick and extends from 1600 m to mountain top on all aspects. Below this crust, the snowpack is moist to ground. Average snowpack depths at treeline elevations in the region range from 70-110 cm.
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.