Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park
Several surface hoar layers in the upper snowpack are sensitive to human triggering. A small avalanche could initiate a deeper instability resulting in a large avalanche.
Travel in the Alpine is not recommended.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use caution in alpine lees. Recent snowfall mixed with wind loading has created storm slabs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
The January 4th surface hoar is down 60cm and the Dec 15th layer is down 100cm. After a month under the snow, this surface hoar remains widespread and well-preserved. These layers should not be overlooked and could be more sensitive in thin areas.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Avalanche Summary
Several natural avalanches size 2-3.5 came down the north aspect of Mt. Macdonald this morning. The size 3.5 dusted and spread woody debris on the highway for a 100m section. Two sz 2.5 were observed yesterday from the same area originating from steep, rocky terrain.
Avalanches originating in the Alpine have the potential to run into valley bottoms.
Snowpack Summary
40cm of new storm snow sits atop the January 16 surface hoar layer which is settling quickly and reactive in tests. Previous strong south winds have built pockets of wind slab in the Alpine. The December 15 surface hoar is down 100cm and is highly visible in profiles and still producing sudden planar results in tests.
Weather Forecast
Cloud cover for the day with 5-10cm of snow by tonight. Alpine temps could reach -6 with freezing levels staying below 1200m. Winds at ridge top will be 20km/hr gusting to 70km/hr from the south. There will be several storms rolling through our area over the next few days, with up to 40cm of snow by Thursday morning.
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Previous strong south winds combined with recent new snow has built surface slab. This buries the Jan 16 surface hoar which is widespread and found down 40cm. Slabs triggered over this weak layer could propagate far and trigger deeper layers.