Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park
Strong winds overnight have created windslabs. Use caution as you approach lee features and be mindful of changing snow conditions.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
70-90cm of settled snow sits on the mid March crust/facet combo. This layer was whumphing and tests showed potential for wide propagation if this layer is triggered.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
- Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.
Avalanche Summary
On the 31st we observed a natural avalanche cycle to size 3. These were triggered by intense solar heating on the new storm slab. Cornices are also large and have been reported to be failing by our near neighbors just outside the park.
Snowpack Summary
55cm of settled storm snow at treeline and above in the past week. Strong N'rly alpine winds overnight have loaded lee features. Storm snow is settling into a cohesive slab on a buried crust/facet layer down 70-90 which is now whumphing and showing sudden test results. This suncrust exists on East-West aspects & is most reactive around treeline.
Weather Forecast
The Arctic air mass sitting over us will begin to be pushed out and we'll see more typical spring weather. Today expect a mix of sun & cloud with 10km/hr SW winds & freezing level to 900m. No precip is forecast for the next 24-48hrs, but localized convective flurries are possible. A Pacific low brings warmer air & snowfall later in the week.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/glacier.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Variable strong winds have blown the recent storm snow around and loaded all aspects in the alpine. While these slabs are fresh they will be susceptible to human triggering, especially in steep unsupported terrain or with strong solar heating.