Bow Summit Study Plot

Submitted by
Parks Canada Visitor Safety
Observations date
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 23:00
Location
51.708960° N 116.478490° W
Reporting on
  • Snow conditions
Map for Mountain Information Network report: Bow Summit Study Plot

Information

Is this a point observation or a summary of your day?
Point observation
Elevation above sea level
2,040m
Elevation band
  • Treeline

Comments

The first image is the Bow Summit study plot snow profile for January 18, 2023.

The second image is a table showing the past 10 years of total snowpack height (HS) at Bow Summit for mid-January.

1. Notice how this is the most shallow year in a decade.

2. Years 2019 - 2022 stand out as good years - the past four winters were good ones.

3. The ten-year average for mid-Jan is 100 cm, we are currently 77% of the average.

4. Shallow snow = weak snow as temperature gradient creates facetting (weakening).

Full profile on Jan 18, 2023. Note the Sudden Collapse results at 30 cm on depth hoar. This is the November crust/facet layer that has now decomposed into depth hoar.
Past 10 years of total snow depth at the Bow Summit study plot for mid-January.