Avalanche forecast

Glacier

Jan 17 – 18, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Rugged travel at lower elevations may be the biggest hazard, where a breakable crust caps the snowpack.

Watch for windslabs as you crest out of the crust laden forest and into the alpine.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Windslabs may persist in areas without a surface crust.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    Cornices have grown dramatically recently. Minimize your exposure to overhead cornices, especially during the warmest part of the day.

Confidence

High

  • Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern; little change is expected for several days.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed on Thursday or Friday.

There were reports of a few fresh avalanches up to size 2.5 locally and from neighboring operations on Wednesday - some triggered by cornice fall.

Artillery control in Rogers Pass on Monday produced numerous avalanches from size 2.5 to 3.5. There was also a natural avalanche cycle during this stormy period, with avalanches running to valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Around 40cm of heavy snow fell early in the week - this was accompanied by above-freezing temperatures which reached into the alpine. Cooler temps have now formed a problematic breakable crust on all but high elevation slopes.

A persistent weak layer was buried on January 1st and is now down 90–130 cm deep. In sheltered areas at treeline and below this interface may be surface hoar. At treeline and into the alpine it is a suncrust.

Weather Summary

Stable weather through the weekend, with a ridge of high pressure over our area. A strong temperature inversion is forecast Saturday.

Tonight: Clear periods. Alpine low -2°C. Light Northwest ridgetop winds.

Sat: Mostly sunny. High 1 °C. Freezing level (FZL) 1300m. Light NW wind.

Sun: Mostly sunny. Low -5 °C, High -3 °C. FZL valley bottom. Light N wind.

Mon: Mostly sunny. Low -7 °C, High -2 °C. FZL 1200m. Light W wind.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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