Natural and human triggered avalanches have decreased and older persistent weak layers have become less reactive. Hazard is declining but don't be caught off guard by highly variable snow conditions.
Weather Forecast
A minor low pressure system tracking through the south of the province will bring mainly cloudy skies with isolated flurries and trace amounts of precipitation. Alpine temperatures will reach -8.0 with light north winds and the freezing level at 1000m. Frigid temperatures return Sunday with high pressure and sunshine.
Snowpack Summary
A dusting of new snow covers hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in the alpine and exposed areas at tree line. Cold temperatures have created a weak and faceted upper snowpack. Wind slabs have been most reactive on solar aspects where crusts are buried. The Jan 17 surface hoar is down 50-70cm at TL and below.
Avalanche Summary
A natural size 2.0 was observed in the highway corridor east of Rogers Pass in Macdonald Gully #9. This avalanche appeared to be from a wind slab release in a high alpine start zone. No other avalanches were observed or reported in Glacier National Park.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.