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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 5th, 2025–Jan 6th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Glacier.

Expect the sun to show its face tomorrow!

Solar input may trigger small loose avalanches in steep southerly terrain. These slides can accumulate enough mass to initiate more stubborn windslabs.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

There have been a few reports of small (size 1 or less) rider-triggered avalanches over the past 2 days.

The wind switched to the NE on Jan 3rd, which initiated a small, isolated natural avalanche cycle in the west end of the park.

We have observed a few natural avalanches up to size 2 this week from very steep terrain in the highway corridor, triggered by the wind.

Snowpack Summary

A thin crust formed in spotty locations below 2500m, due to freezing rain on Saturday afternoon. This is now buried by ~5cm of new snow.

Lower density surface snow been redistributed by moderate wind from various directions this past week, which has created pockets of soft slabs in wind prone areas. There is also a thin sun crust buried ~20cm on steep S aspects.

Overall the snowpack is strong with well settled mid and lower snowpacks.

Weather Summary

A ridge of high pressure builds over the interior for the next two days.

Tonight Cloudy w/ clear periods, Alp Low: -8°C. Wind: NW 10-20km/hr. Freezing level 1000m.

Mon Mix of sun & cloud. Alp high -3 °C. Wind: NW 10-20km/hr. FZL 1100m

Tue Mix of sun & cloud. Alp high -1°C. Wind SW 25-50 km/hr. FZL 1000m

Wed Mainly cloudy, no precip. Alp high -7°C. Wind W 20-30km/hr. FZL 1000m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for slabs before you commit to it.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Problems

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.