Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 25th, 2017 7:57AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Parks Canada ian gale, Parks Canada

Remember to always use safe backcountry travel techniques and good group management. Use caution around cornices and unsupported shallow snowpack areas.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Today will start with sunshine! This afternoon the weather will shift to cloudy as a surface low builds, bringing small amounts of precip to Glacier National Park. Convective flurries are possible today with an alpine high of -12 deg and SW winds gusting to 40. Precipitation is forecast to start Wednesday with warming temps and increasing winds.

Snowpack Summary

Where sheltered, surface hoar to 3mm sits on top of a well settled upper snowpack. On South and West aspects a sun/temp crust is just below the surface and is supportive to skis/boards. Below 1500m, a strong temp crust exists on all aspects. The lower snowpack is still facetted and weak from all the cold weather in Dec & Jan.

Avalanche Summary

In the last few days two size 2- 2.5 slab avalanches occurred on the north side of Mt. Macdonald. A size 1 wind slab was accidentally triggered on Glacier Crest aswell. Small sluffs were observed by field teams on Wednesday in steep north aspects at TL, running slow and stopping short.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Visible wind transport observed this morning from an overnight spike in winds has created fresh windslab along the immediate lee of ridge lines and alpine cross loaded features.
Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 26th, 2017 8:00AM