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

Apr 25th, 2022–Apr 28th, 2022

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead.

With spring conditions, avalanche hazard can change quickly during periods of warming or from a blast of wet spring snow. Start early and keep track of any accumulating snowfall.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 cm. Gusty 15-35 km/h southwest wind, alpine low temperature -2 C. Poor overnight re-freeze expected with freezing level staying above 2000 m.

TUESDAY: Wet flurries, 5-10 cm. 20-40 km/h southwest wind. alpine high temperature +1 C, freezing level slowly falling to 1800 m overnight.

WEDNESDAY: Scattered flurries, 10-20 cm accumulating by morning. 20-30 km/hr southwest wind, alpine high temperature +2 C, daytime freezing level around 1600 m.

THURSDAY: Scattered cloud. Light west wind, alpine high temperature +3 C, daytime freezing level rising above 2100 m.

Avalanche Summary

A few loose wet avalanches occurred Sunday from steep south-facing alpine slopes. Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network to supplement our data stream and help fellow recreationists.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack has transitioned to spring-time conditions, with overnight crusts transitioning to moist snow during the day, and isolated and lingering winter-ish conditions at the highest shaded elevations. Overall the snowpack is strong, consisting of hard snow and various melt-freeze crusts. At ridge top, remember that cornices are large and looming. The snowpack deteriorates rapidly at lower elevations.

Terrain and Travel

  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Remember that in the spring strong solar radiation and warm temperatures can weaken the snow in a matter of minutes.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.