Avalanche forecast

Glacier

Jan 26 – 27, 2024Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map

Highlights

Enjoy the warm temps and good quality skiing. Avalanche hazard will rise as conditions change into the weekend with a warm, wet storm approaching.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3

    This problem is most reactive on South through West aspects, where a sun crust exists 40-70 cm deep.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    Recent snow, accompanied by variable wind and mild temps, has created a soft slab that is most reactive near ridgelines and on convex slopes at lower elevations. Above Tree-line these storm slabs are present in lee features and a bit more stubborn to initiate.

Confidence

No Rating

Avalanche Summary

Few observations of natural activity over last few days, with isolated activity triggered by southerly winds and high freezing levels in valley bottoms avalanche paths.

Riders have been triggering warm, storm slabs below treeline this week. These avalanches have been small and failing down 30-40 cm on the Jan 3 crust.

Backcountry report of reactive wind slabs up the Asulkan drainage on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temperatures below treeline and wind effect in the alpine & at treeline have created a soft storm slab. This overlies variable wind effect in open terrain at/above Tree-line, and faceted snow in sheltered areas below Tree-line.

A sun crust (Jan 3), down 50cm and most prominent at and below Tree-line on S-SW aspects, has been the failure plane for recent human triggered avalanches.

The Dec 1 surface hoar layer is down ~110cm and is decomposing.

Weather Summary

2 frontal systems impacting the interior on Fri and Sun will bring warm temperature, light to moderate snowfall and S winds.

Tonight: Cloudy, flurries, 5cm snow, Alp low -6°C, light SW winds, 1100m FZL

Fri: Flurries, Trace , Alp high -6°C, light SW winds, 1400m FZL

Sat: Flurries, 8 cm, Alp high -5°C, moderate SW winds, 1800m FZL

Sun: Periods of snow, 15cm, Alp high 0°C, mod to strong S winds, 2200m FZL

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for human triggerable storm slabs at lower elevations, even on small features.

Regions covered