Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 29th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Wet Slabs and Loose Wet.

CG, Avalanche Canada

Glacier.

Freezing levels are forecasted to stay near ridgetop until Thurs. Until the snowpack gets locked in by cold temps, natural and human triggered avalanches are likely at all elevation bands.

As I mentioned yesterday, your best and safest option for skiing/riding will be at a ski hill.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A natural avalanche cycle has continued from yesterday into Monday, with numerous avalanches to sz 4 running within the highway corridor. A remote trigger adjacent to the west end of Glacier NP resulted in a sz 3.5 running from the Alpine to valley bottom.

The same obs have been noted in the backcountry, with numerous wet/loose avalanches to sz 3 observed at all elevations/aspects, gouging deep in confined gullies.

Snowpack Summary

Warmth, new snow, and wind have created widespread wet slabs. Currently these slabs are reactive at all elevations until temps drop later in the week.

A sun crust (Jan 3), down 60-80cm, can be found at and below Tree-line on S-SW aspects. The current avalanche cycle is seeing storm slabs stepping down to this layer and deeper within confined gullies.

The Dec 1 surface hoar layer, down ~120cm, is decomposing.

Weather Summary

The Pineapple Express on the West Coast has elevated temps for our region and will bring S'ly winds with precip.

Tonight: Rain and wet snow, 15cm, Alpine low 0°C. Gusty Moderate SW winds. Freezing level (FZL) 1900m

Tues: Flurries, trace amounts. High 0°C. Gusty mod/strong S winds. FZL 2000m.

Wed: Sun and cloud, showers. High 3°C. Mod gusty SE winds. FZL 2600m.

Thurs: Cloudy. High 0°C. FZL 1900m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.

Problems

Wet Slabs

20+cm of sticky Elephant Snot and warm temps have created a heavy, wet slab that is reactive at all elevations on unsupported rolls and cross-loaded features. Avalanches are naturally occurring in this layer and skiing/riding is extremely difficult.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Loose Wet

Expect loose snow avalanches in steep terrain as freezing levels remain near ridgetop. As these avalanches gather mass, they could potentially step down to deeper layers within the snowpack.