Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 27th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada mhalik, Avalanche Canada

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Heavy rain and extreme winds are forecast to continue; anticipate loose wet avalanche activity at all elevations.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday the field team reported seeing numerous small loose wet avalanches in the Mt. Arrowsmith area. For more details check out their MIN.

With the current warm and very wet conditions hitting the Island we suspect a natural avalanche cycle is ongoing.

Snowpack Summary

Rain has saturated the snowpack right to mountaintop elevations.

In the mid-snowpack, a crust/facet combination may exist in high alpine terrain.

The potential remains for wet slabs to be triggered on this crust in isolated areas.

Otherwise, the mid and lower snowpack contains a series of old crusts and is currently well-bonded and strong.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with heavy rain, southwest alpine winds 60-80 km/h, treeline temperature 8°C, freezing levels around 2500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with moderate to heavy rain, southwest alpine winds 60-70 km/h, treeline temperature 8°C, freezing levels around 2500 m.

Monday

Cloudy with very heavy rain, south alpine winds 100 km/h, treeline temperature 10°C, freezing levels around 2800 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with light rain, southwest alpine winds 30-40 km/h, treeline temperature 6°C, freezing levels around 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Rain at lower elevations continues to melt and weaken the snowpack. While unlikely, the potential remains for wet slabs to fail in isolated areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 28th, 2024 4:00PM

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