Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park
Changing slab condition over the Dec 15th surface hoar persistent weak layer is the chief concern right now. Take time to evaluate the snowpack before committing to your line.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.
- Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Dry
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
We may see a natural loose dry cycle on steep solar aspects if the sun does come out today.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Avalanche Summary
Two natural size 1.5 slabs in the highway corridor and Frequent Flyer made it down across the summer trail yesterday size 1.5-2. Part of the north face of Swiss Peak also came out size 3 in the last 48hrs. Skier triggered size 1 remote from 10m away yesterday in the west end of the park.
Snowpack Summary
The Dec 15th PWL (most prominent at TL) is the main layer of concern, in many areas a slab has yet to form over it though. We were able to observed some failures of this layer to size 0.5 in one location and "cracking" giving the snowpack a rippled effect in other sites. Steeper solar aspects will have a sun crust after yesterday's warmth.
Weather Forecast
Cloudy with sunny periods and no precipitation today. Alpine high of -2C with light winds and a freezing level of 1800m. A warming trend continues into the weekend with flurries expected on Friday into Saturday.
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The December 15 surface hoar layer is widespread around treeline and buried 60cm. Cold temps have kept the slab from settling and gaining cohesion, limiting natural and skier triggered avalanches so far.