Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 2nd, 2014 8:00AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs, Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Increasing avalanche hazard today with the incoming storm. Give overhead avalanche paths a wide berth, especially during periods of heavy snowfall.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A winter storm is forecasted to arrive in the area later this morning, bringing anywhere between 10-30cm of snow, with moderate to strong W winds and freezing levels rising to 1400m.

Snowpack Summary

35cm of recent snow is settling. Mid to lower snow pack is rounding out and becoming more settled. The Dec. 8 surface hoar/facet layer, down ~90cm, is mostly unreactive in snowpack tests around Rogers Pass. The Nov. 28 surface hoar layer, down ~125cm, is still well preserved in certain areas and is giving hard sudden planar results.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed in the highway corridor yesterday. Ski operations adjacent to Glacier National park observed a few slab avalanches within the storm snow, less than 30cm in thickness. As the new storm system rolls in, expect natural activity to pick up.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm slabs will become an issue at the peak of the incoming system. Strong winds and warm temp's accompanying the new snow will develop slabs quickly in exposed lee features at all elevations.

Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are still reactive to rider triggering in the upper snowpack. Large planar or unsupported slopes should be treated with respect.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.Avoid freshly wind loaded features.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

A deep persistent weakness lingers, down roughly 120cm. It will take a large trigger to initiate this layer, but if it starts to move, propagation would likely be wide and deep, creating a larger avalanche.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Jan 3rd, 2014 8:00AM