Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park
Alpine winds have affected snow quality in all but isolated areas. It is still possible for large human triggered avalanches. Evaluate the terrain and the snowpack carefully before committing to your line.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Cornices have been failing over the past week, cold temperatures and solar input are contributing to these failures with brittle fractures of the snow as temperatures fluctuate.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid travel on slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating.
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanches observed in the past three days. Several artillery controlled slab avalanches to size 2.0 yesterday during a target verification shoot.
Skier controlled size 2.5 wind slab on Mt. Sifton several days ago.
Several cornice failures earlier this week up to size 2.5.
Snowpack Summary
Cold temps promoting facetting of the upper snowpack. Previous strong northerly and recent moderate southerly winds have added to the growth of cornices. Windslab can be expected in the alpine and exposed areas into treeline. On solar aspects, a crust is buried 40cm. Persistent weak layers from January and December are now buried 150-200cm.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures are expected to rise gradually and its about time because I am getting tired of waking up to -25 every morning. Mainly cloudy skies, isolated flurries, a temp range of -12 to -16 with 20km/h southwest winds. Dribs and drabs of snow over the weekend and into next week with accumulation up to 15cm by Monday.
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Previous strong northerly and recent moderate southerly winds formed windslab in the alpine and treeline. Natural slab avalanches to size 2 occurred earlier this week, many triggered by cornice fall. Avoid exposing yourself to overhead hazard.