Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park
Previous strong winds have created wind slabs in the alpine. Use caution on steep solar aspects, there are multiple buried crusts which could be sensitive to human triggered in the right location.
Great skiing found on high Northerly aspects
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. In recent tests this layer fails suddenly and has showed potential for wide propagation if triggered. Avoid convexities and thin snowpack areas on solar aspects.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
- Be aware of the potential for wide propagations which could result in large avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed in the last two days, though there have been reports of whumphing and shooting cracks within the recent storm snow on solar aspects where it sits on a crust.
Cornices are large and have been reported to be failing by our near neighbors just outside the park.
Snowpack Summary
A surprise 7cm of new snow overnight with 70cm of settled storm snow in the past week. Variable strong-moderate alpine winds have loaded lee features. Storm snow is settling into a cohesive slab on a buried crust/facet layer down 70-90 and showing sudden test results. This crust exists on East-South-West aspects and most reactive around tree line.
Weather Forecast
A mix of sun and cloud for the day with localized convective flurries. Wind will be from the West at 15-35km/hr with an alpine high of -9 and valley bottom approaching 0 as the freezing level rises to 1200m. Warming temperatures and precipitation forecasted for the end of the week and over the weekend.
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Previous strong variable winds have blown the storm snow around and loaded lee features in the Alpine. While these slabs are fresh they will be susceptible to human triggering, especially in steep unsupported terrain or with solar heating.