Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park
Human-triggered avalanches are likely with several buried surface hoar layers. It's time for conservative decision making.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
This interface has become reactive with the recent new snow loading. It is most prevalent around treeline or on sheltered slopes the alpine. These avalanches are especially dangerous in terrain trap features where debris can pile up quickly.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
- Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
Avalanche Summary
A size 3 natural avalanche occurred yesterday morning on the SE face of 8812 peak. A field team observed evidence of a slightly older widespread natural avalanche cycle while traveling in Connaught Creek drainage. A second field team felt a large whumph while descending through an open glade in the Hermit area.
Snowpack Summary
70cm of snow fell in the past week and settled into a slab over several weak layers. Jan 4th surface hoar is down 50cm and the Dec 15 surface hoar persistent weak layer is down around 100cm. The additional snow load has made these layers reactive. Snowpack tests show propagation potential with sudden planar results on the Jan 4 and Dec15 layers.
Weather Forecast
Cloudy with sunny periods today. Freezing levels climb to 800m with an alpine high of -8.0. Winds will be light from the SW. Cold arctic air will be replaced by a SW flow on Saturday bringing warmer temperatures, strong winds and trace amounts of snow. Freezing levels reach 1700m on Sunday. Up to 20cm of snow is expected for Tuesday.
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.
A reactive storm slab sits atop the Jan 4 surface hoar interface. The slab is poorly bonded where the surface hoar is well preserved. If triggered, avalanches could step down to the Dec 15th persistent weak layer causing very large slides.