Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park
Use caution around leeward alpine and treeline features as pockets of windslab may be hidden.
The best quality snow can be found on shaded aspects.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Variable winds have created pockets of wind slab on all aspects.
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.
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 appears to be bonding well on polar aspects. On solar aspects, this layer fails suddenly in stability tests and has shown potential for wide propagation if triggered.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be aware of the potential for wide propagations which could result in large avalanches.
- Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
Thursday strong solar input contributed to a widespread natural avalanche cycle on south facing slopes. A field team directly observed a large size 2.5 Na from the Frequent Flyer path in the Connaught Creek drainage. Several large solar triggered avalanches were also observed in the highway corridor east of Rogers Pass, up to size 3.0.
Snowpack Summary
A few centimeters sits on top of a sun crust on solar aspects. 15-20cm of low density powder remains on shaded aspects. Wind slabs are above treeline in lee features. 60cm of recent storm snow is settling out and appears to be bonding well on polar aspects. On solar slopes, the storm slab sits on a persistent crust.
Weather Forecast
A pacific frontal system is tracking inland today bringing 10-15cm of snow to the Rogers Pass area later today and overnight. With freezing levels reaching 1900m this could mean rain at lower elevations. Today expect overcast skies, an Alpine high of -1 deg C and Southerly winds to 20 kph. Unsettled weather is forecast for much of next week.
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Recent shifting winds have created wind slabs above treeline. More subtle wind loaded pockets exist in lee features & can easily be triggered by skiers. Watch for these pockets around cornices, wind lips and roll overs. New snow may hide these slabs