Avalanche forecast

Glacier

Jan 24 – 25, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Warming temps and moderate SW winds have created a soft storm slab at all elevations.

Be suspect of surface snow that feels heavier/stiffer, like around ridgecrests and cross-loaded features.

Watch for "mashed-potato" consistency storm slabs at low elevations, especially in steep-sided gullies or convex rolls.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Be extra cautious on South through West aspects, where there is a sun-crust down 40-70cm that has been reactive to skier/rider traffic.

  • 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

High

Avalanche Summary

A field team was able to ski cut a few convexities on solar aspects the last 2 days, producing up to sz 1.5 soft slabs running 30-40cm deep on the Jan 3 melt-freeze crust. These slabs were more reactive below Tree-line.

A natural sz 2 storm slab, ~30cm deep, 20m wide, 200m long, was observed from an Alpine start zone in the Connaught Path today.

Near neighbours are also reporting human-triggering of a soft slab, ~30-50cm deep, on unsupported rolls/features.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temps and 30cm of settling storm snow are creating a soft storm slab on top of 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

Weak storm fronts will bring light snow, moderate winds, and mild temps the next few days.

Tonight: Cloudy, flurries, trace amounts, Alp low -5°C, light SW winds, 1400m freezing level (FZL)

Wed: Sun/cloud, flurries, trace amounts, Alp high -4°C, mod SW winds, 1600m FZL

Thurs: Flurries, 5-10cm, high -6°C, mod SW winds, 1400m FZL

Fri: Cloudy, isolated flurries, 5cm, Alp high -7°C, light SW winds, 1200m 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