Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park
Take time to evaluate the snowpack before committing to your objectives. Recent storm snow needs time to settle and bond. Persistent weak layers may still be triggered by large loads such as cornice fall or storm snow avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Natural avalanche activity on the persistent weak layers has dropped off. The Jan 16th, 4th &Dec 15th surface hoar layers are buried deep. Large triggers such as cornice fall or storm slabs may overload these layers.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Carefully evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.
Avalanche Summary
Jan 29-30, 2018 produced a widespread avalanche cycle to size 3.5. A heli flight yesterday at treeline elevation reported numerous avalanches mainly in the size 2 range, from the same avalanche cycle. Grizzly Bowl released size 3 and ran to 2/3 fan overnight Jan 30-31.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack Discussion
75cm of recent storm snow, 20cm in the last 48hrs at 1900m, along with moderate S'ly winds. Expect to find soft wind slab along ridge lines and lee features. Jan 16 surface hoar is down ~70cm, Jan 4 down ~90cm and Dec 15 down ~1m+ making for a complex sandwich of weak layers.
Weather Forecast
Convective flurries, SW winds edging into moderate at ridge line and an alpine high of -9C today. The next Pacific storm begins tonight with upwards of 25cm by the end of the day Friday. The snow continues through the weekend with mod-strong SW winds and upwards of 25cm of additional snow.
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Recent heavy snowfall has created a storm slab in some locations. Wind transport added to the load on lee slopes at and above treeline. If triggered, the slab could step down to deeper persistent weak layers.