Avalanche forecast

Lizard-Flathead

Mar 26 – 27, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Low danger doesn't mean no avalanches.

Avoid cross-loaded features and areas with a shallow, thin-to-thick, snowpack where it may still be possible to trigger a slab.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Watch for isolated pockets of wind slab lingering in the alpine.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, several small, loose wet avalanches were rider-triggered on sunny slopes.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 25 cm of recent snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces, except for northerly aspects at upper elevations.

A widespread, hard crust with facets above is buried down 180 cm in the Lizard Range and 80 to 120 cm elsewhere. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer. However, when a thick surface crust is present, human triggering this layer is unlikely.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 25 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 2 cm of snow. 25 km/h southwest alpine wind.  Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Thursday

Partly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 25 km/h southwest alpine wind.  Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Friday

Partly cloudy with 2 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.

Regions covered