Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
Watch for signs of instability as you move into wind affected terrain.
Rugged and challenging travel with a shallow snowpack and widespread refrozen avalanche debris at low elevations.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Warm weather and rain last week triggered a widespread spring like avalanche cycle with many avalanches gouging to ground in gully features and running full path. As temperatures have fallen and refrozen the surface natural avalanche activity has ceased.
Snowpack Summary
New snow sits over a robust surface crust that formed following recent warm weather. Be prepared for challenging travel over refrozen avalanche debris and shallow snowpack hazards below tree line.
The mid and lower snow pack is gaining strength and becoming less sugary.
Currently the snowpack is roughly 30cm below the previous record low.
Weather Summary
Still no major changes on the weather horizon; temperatures gradually falling and small increments of new snow through the week.
Tues: Flurries up to 9cm, low -6°C, moderate S winds, freezing level (FZL) 1700m.
Wed: Cloudy isolated flurries - trace, low -8°C high -4°C, light S winds, FZL 1400m.
Thurs: Cloudy isolated flurries - trace, low -10°C high -7°C,FZL 1100m.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow accompanied by moderate winds will form soft wind slabs on leeward and cross loaded features in the alpine and exposed tree line. Pay attention to changes in the snow under your feet as you transition out of sheltered terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2