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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 21st, 2025–Mar 22nd, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Flathead, Lizard.

15 to 25 cm of recent snow and southwest wind have formed fresh storm slabs.

Triggering will be most likely in wind affected terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, a few naturally triggered storm slabs up to size 1.5 were reported on northerly and easterly aspects at treeline and above.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 25 cm of recent snow and southwest wind have formed fresh storm slabs that may be reactive to human triggers.

60 cm of recent snow sits on a melt-freeze crust, except for high-elevation north and east-facing slopes.

A persistent weak layer of surface hoar or facets from late January is buried 100 to 150 cm. Rocky slopes with a convex shape on northerly and easterly facing aspects at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer.

The lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Cloudy with 3 to 10 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west winds. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Sunday

Cloudy skies. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level rapidly rising to 2400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
  • Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.