Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 17th, 2016 8:00AM

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

Parks Canada andrew jones, Parks Canada

Rising temperatures will encourage snow settlement and slab development. Avalanche hazard will increase as the storm snow forms a cohesive slab.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A series of low pressure systems will track trough the area this week. For today, mainly cloudy, nil precipitation, alpine high of -3, ridge winds S 15-30km/h and freezing levels rising to 1400m. Snow flurries begin late this evening with 6cm of accumulation by Monday morning.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine up to 50cm of new snow sits atop the January 4th interface. This interface is surface hoar in protected areas, sun crust on steep S - SW aspects and loose facets at tree-line and below. Where wind-affected, storm slabs have formed in lee features. Storm snow is unconsolidated at lower elevations but slab properties are developing.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported yesterday in Glacier National Park.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Storm slabs continue to develop as warm temps, wind and snow settlement turn the upper 40cm into a cohesive layer. Slabs are most developed in exposed alpine ares. This layer was easily triggered in stability tests below treeline on surface hoar.
Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls at treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.Use caution in lee areas. Wind loading could create slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 18th, 2016 8:00AM