Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
Large loads have lambasted the lands, and the slopes are adjusting to this new stress. Choosing supported, moderately-angled runs with little overhead hazard would be wise today.
Keep tabs on your partner in the trees. Tree-wells are hungry!
Weather Forecast
A slight break in the weather for the next 24 hrs before a smaller disturbance rolls through the region.
Today: Isolated flurries, trace amounts. Alpine high of -16*C. Moderate S'ly winds.
Tonight: Flurries, trace amounts. Alpine low of -17*C. Moderate SW'ly winds.
Tomorrow: Flurries, 10cm of snow. Alpine high of -11*C. Moderate SW'ly winds
Snowpack Summary
1.5m of new snow this week has altered the snowpack. Several weaknesses in the new snow can be found in the metre+ that lays above the persistent Dec 27th layer. Moderate to strong SW winds are redistributing the snow, creating slabs in alpine and tree-line lee features. Deep, loose snow in sheltered locations is available for power-sluffing.
Avalanche Summary
The snowpack is still adjusting to the new load. The natural avalanche cycle has slowed down in most parts of the Rogers Pass region, but notable natural avalanches from Macdonald, Tupper, and Cheops to sz 3 are still running with the wind-loading overnight. Artillery results from yesterday saw many dozens of slides reach the valley floor.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
The new snow, accompanied by mod/strong SW winds, has created reactive storm slabs in lee alpine and tree-line features. Approach all open terrain with caution. Large paths have the potential to run to valley bottom.
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Loose Dry
60cm of new snow has the potential to entrain a lot of mass as it moves downhill. Getting pushed into a tree-well or a small hole could have serious consequences with the copious amounts of loose snow that is ready to flow.
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
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: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 4