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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 18th, 2020–Jan 19th, 2020
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Glacier.

Watch for windslab in exposed areas. These slabs may be sensitive to human triggering.

Weather Forecast

Scattered flurries with 4cm accumulation forecast for today accompanied by Southerly winds in the 20km/h range and a 700m freezing level. Cloudy with sunny periods and a rising freezing level to 1500m on Sunday accompanied by moderate Southerly winds. Monday looks very similar to Sunday with a shift to moderate winds out of the SW.

Snowpack Summary

Strong southerly winds have redistributed 15cm of new storm snow. Reactive wind slabs have formed in exposed areas above treeline. The Dec 27th surface hoar/ crust layer is buried approximately 100cm. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong.

Avalanche Summary

Eight avalanches including one size 3 over the last two days in the highway corridor east of Rogers Pass. No new backcountry avalanches reported or observed.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Multiple field teams confirmed the presence of easily-triggered soft wind slabs in exposed areas at all elevations. Expect this problem to persists today. These slabs can have larger than expected propagation.

  • Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.
  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The December 27th surface hoar layer persists down approximately 100cm. This layer is becoming less reactive in stability tests and it is increasingly harder to find in snow profiles, but the potential is still there to get surprised.

  • If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 1 - 3