Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2024 4:00PM

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

DH, Avalanche Canada

Glacier.

High freezing levels and warm temperatures are maintaining elevated avalanche hazard.

Human triggered avalanches are likely until cooler weather locks in the snowpack.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Artillery control on Monday night produced numerous loose and wet slab avalanches running full path up to sz 3.5 throughout the highway corridor. A widespread natural avalanche cycle on Sunday and Monday was also observed in the backcountry with numerous wet/loose avalanches to sz 3 observed at all elevations/aspects, gouging deeply in confined gullies. A remote trigger adjacent to the west end of Glacier NP resulted in a sz 3.5 running from the Alpine to valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Snow melt and rain has soaked the upper snowpack making it weak and easy to trigger.

A sun crust (Jan 3), down 60-80cm, can be found at and below Tree-line on S-SW aspects. Recent avalanches have been stepping down to this layer and deeper within confined gullies.

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

Weather Summary

Warm air from the south west will maintain elevated freezing levels and high temperatures for the next several days. Gradual cooling will begin on Friday.

Wed: Mix of sun and cloud. High 2°C. Light gusting moderate SE winds. Freezing level (FZL) 2600m.

Thurs: Cloudy with isolated showers or flurries. High 0°C. Winds S light. FZL 2200m.

Fri: Cloudy with isolated flurries. High 1°C. FZL 2000m.

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 wet snow and warm temperatures have created a heavy, wet slab that is reactive at all elevations on unsupported rolls and cross-loaded features. Recent avalanches have been 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.