Lizard-Flathead

Use Extra caution as you venture into wind effected terrain.

Recent storm snow may not have bonded yet to the underlying surface.

On Sunday ski cutting produced wet and dry loose avalanches to size 1.

20 to 25 cm of recent snow and strong northwest wind have formed wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above. As wind direction changes wind slab may be found on all aspects. This snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces, except for northerly aspects at upper elevations. The snow surface will become moist at low elevations with rising freezing levels.

A widespread, hard crust with facets above is buried down 180 cm in the Lizard and 80 to 120 cm elsewhere in the region. 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.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of new snow. 15 to 30 km/h west alpine wind. Treeline temperature -10°C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow. 15 to 30 km/h west alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest alpine wind.  Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with 5 cm of new snow expected. 20 to 40 km/h southwest alpine wind.  Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.