Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 20th, 2017 8:00AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
andrew jones,
Parks Canada
When the sun comes out today, the storm snow will become more reactive. The new snow is still needs time to stabilize.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Unsettled weather continues with a mix of sun and cloud. Freezing levels will rise to 1300m, but the Alpine will stay cool at -6. Ridge winds will be light from the south.
Snowpack Summary
50cm of new storm snow is starting to consolidate into a slab that is sitting over buried wind slabs and isolated pockets of surface hoar. Moderate southerly winds have likely redistributed this snow at ridgetop. The mid and lower snowpack are composed of weak facetted snow from the cold weather we received last month.
Avalanche Summary
Natural avalanche activity dropped off yesterday but explosive avalanche control produced numerous large avalanches in the west side of Glacier National Park. The avalanches were triggered as slabs in the upper start zones and ran to the valley bottom.
Confidence
Problems
Storm Slabs
50cm of new snow, accompanied by moderate southerly winds and warming temperatures, has created a new storm slab . The slab is poorly bonded to a weak layer of facets and surface hoar. This slab is widespread and may become more reactive in the sun.
Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 21st, 2017 8:00AM
