Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 31st, 2024–Feb 1st, 2024

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Flathead.

We should see a gradual decrease in avalanche danger as cooling temperatures help to freeze and stabilize the snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The natural avalanche cycle observed on the weekend and earlier in the week due to the warming event, has started to slow down. However there were still reports of several wet slab, persistent slab and wet loose avalanches to size 1-2.5 being reported Tuesday and Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Recent rain and warm temperatures have created a moist or wet upper snowpack at all elevations. A weak surface crust may have formed overnight at upper elevations. Expect this to break down quickly throughout the day.

The snowpack has two buried weak layers of concern. A layer of weak facets and surface hoar is buried 30 to 60 cm deep. There is a layer of weak facets sitting on a crust crust buried 80 to 100 cm deep. The warm temperature has made these layers more reactive.

Currently, the mid and lower snowpack is generally well-bonded.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly overcast with isolated rain showers or snow flurries at uppermost elevations. Alpine wind southwest 20 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature 1 °C, freezing level 2500 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with isolated rain showers or snow snow flurries at uppermost elevations. Alpine wind south and southwest 15 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature 2 °C, freezing level 2100-2500 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with wet flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine wind northwest 10 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 2000 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with wet flurries, up to 5 mm accumulation. Alpine wind northwest 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.

Problems

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.