Heavy rain and warm temperatures have spread to the mountain tops.
Watch for snow becoming wet, heavy, and more reactive on the crust below.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
A large (size 2) natural wet slab avalanche was reported in the Coquihalla area. It is suspected this avalanche was initiated by small loose wet sluffing, that then triggered a larger avalanche.
Snowpack Summary
In the alpine, up to 25 cm of wind redistributed snow sits on a decomposing melt-freeze crust. At treeline and below, 10 cm sits on a crust from Tuesdays warming event. All of this snow is rapidly settling and becoming wet with the rising freezing levels and rain.
The mid and lower snowpack contain several crusts that are not concerning. The snowpack remains shallow for this time of year.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with 20 to 40 mm of rain. Southwest alpine wind, 40 to 50 km/h. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 mm of rain. Southwest alpine wind, 30 to 50 km/h. Freezing level 2500 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds, no new precipitation. Southwest alpine winds, 30 to 50 km/h. Freezing level 2700 m.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy, 3 to 5 mm of rain. Southwest alpine winds, 20 to 40 km/h. Freezing level falling to 2300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
- Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.
Problems
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches are possible at all elevations as freezing levels rise. Expect them to be touchy in areas where a melt-freeze crust lays beneath the surface snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wet Slabs
As the snow above the recent crust saturates, wide propagation is possible.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 28th, 2024 4:00PM
