Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
Go to the ski hill today! 70cm overnight has caused a natural avalanche cycle that is continuing with strong S'ly winds.
Weather Forecast
Unsettled air will persist as the low pressure trough moves out of the region.
Today: Flurries, 5cm. Freezing levels dropping to the valley floor. Mod/strong S'ly winds.
Tonight: Flurries, trace to 5cm. Freezing level valley floor. Light W'ly winds.
Tomorrow: Isolated flurries, alpine temps -17*C, light W'ly winds
Snowpack Summary
Whoa! The snowpack just got stressed overnight! Over 70cm fell last night at tree-line, bringing the weekly total to over 1.5m. Several weaknesses in the new snow can be found in the metre+ that lays above the persistent Dec 27th layer. The November and early Dec crusts and surface hoar layers may awaken with the rapid increase in load.
Avalanche Summary
The natural avalanche cycle roared all night and continues today. Avalanches from artillery overnight ranged from sz 2.5 to 3.5 from most targets. Expect the natural avalanche cycle to continue with strong S'ly winds reloading the start zones all day.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
70cm of new snow with gusty S winds has created touchy storm slabs. Expect buried slabs from this past week's snow and extreme S winds. Approach all open terrain with caution. Large paths have the potential to run to valley bottom.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Persistent Slabs
Storm slabs have the potential to step down to the December 27th SH, which is now buried over a metre deep.
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 4
Loose Dry
70cm of new snow has the potential to entrain a lot of mass as it flows downhill.
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5