Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
With cooling temperatures, the rain soaked snowpack will gradually freeze into a firm crust. Expect poor quality skiing & hazardous travel conditions.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Over the past week, warm temps and light rain has triggered isolated large avalanches in steep gullies above the highway.
A widespread natural avalanche cycle was observed from all aspects and elevations throughout the week with very large avalanches running full path. Avalanche control within and adjacent to the park produced numerous avalanches up to size 3.5 with some showing wide propagation.
Snowpack Summary
The recent warm weather and rain has soaked the upper snowpack. This is beginning to freeze into a crust as temps cool, making for difficult and hazardous travel conditions at all elevations and on all aspects.
A sun crust (Jan 3), down 60-80cm, can be found at and below Tree-line on S-SW aspects. Wet surface avalanches have been stepping down to this layer and deeper within confined gullies.
The Dec 1 surface hoar layer, down ~120cm, is decomposing.
Weather Summary
Flurries & light snow through the weekend with temperatures gradually returning to seasonal norms.
Tonight: Isolated flurries. Alpine low -7°C. Freezing level (FZL) 1000m. Light east ridgetop winds.
Sun: 4cm. Alpine high -6°C, FZL 1300m. Light east wind.
Mon: Cloudy with sunny periods Trace precip. Low High -5°C. FZL 1400m. Light ridgetop wind.
Tues: 4cm, High -5°C. FZL 1500m. Light ridgetop wind.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Loose, wet snow avalanches will still be possible at lower elevations, but should cease once freezing levels return to the valley bottom.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5