Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
Weather Forecast
Strong to extreme winds from the SW will die down this morning, accompanied by a general cooling over the next couple of days. Alpine highs today of -7*C, winds dropping from strong SW to moderate NW during the day, and isolated flurries. Calm and cooler Monday, with light SW winds, trace amounts of snow, and alpine highs of -8*C.
Snowpack Summary
In specific locations, strong to extreme S winds have redistributed storm snow and created loaded pockets and wind slabs on lee and cross-loaded features at treeline and above. The Jan 17 persistent weak layer down 30cm is surface hoar in sheltered areas and sun crust on solar aspects. The overlying 30cm has settled into a cohesive soft slab.
Avalanche Summary
Several natural loose and small slab avalanches to sz 2 were observed on steep solar aspects off of Mt Tupper yesterday. Field teams were able to easily trigger 10-15cm deep soft slabs, 5-10m wide, on N-facing convexities. Fast-moving, dry loose sluffs were observed below tree-line in steep, confined gullies.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2