Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Corner Brook, Gros Morne, Long Range Mountains, Northern Peninsula.
Rain on dry snow could create small but heavy avalanches.
Wind slab avalanches could be possible in high terrain on Sunday, and likely in any wind exposed terrain on Monday.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Looking forward to Sunday, we expect that human triggered avalanches will be possible where the surface snow is loose and sticky or slushy, or where fresh wind-loading is happening with dry snow high up in the hills. With new snow wind on Monday, wind slab avalanches could be more widespread.
On Friday, it is expected that a widespread loose wet avalanche cycle occurred during the heavy rain, small (up to size 1.5 wet loose avalanches were observed in the Tablelands).
Snowpack Summary
Due to large temperature swings, you may find dry snow, wet snow, or a frozen crust on the surface. Wind-loading may be forming reactive slabs up high.
The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and settled.
In wind sheltered, mid elevation areas, average snow depth is 100-130 cm. Wind exposed coverage is extremely variable, with features that catch wind-blown snow potentially being a few meters deep. With recent moist, dense snow sticking well to most aspects, you will find shallow snow areas, but very little ground is visible.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with light snow turning to rain. 60 to 80 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1500 m. Treeline high 3 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with light rain turning to snow. 50-70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling back to sea level. Treeline low -5 °C.
(Possibly east/northeast wind and 10 cm of snow in the northern half of the forecast area, with some uncertainty on where the dividing line will be).
Monday
Partly cloudy with 3-8 cm of snow, pockets of 15 cm over the highest hills. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind with higher gusts overnight, easing to 20-30 km/h and shifting to northwest for the daytime period. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with light snow. 20 to 40 km/h west or northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low -17 °C, high -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
- Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Saturday night and Sunday will be less rainy than Friday was, so you'll likely only find loose, unstable snow where dry snow that fell Friday afternoon is getting rained on for the first time.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
At hilltops, there may be enough dry snow available to be blown into reactive slabs by strong to extreme south or west winds. With new snow and strong wind forecasted for Monday, deeper, more reactive wind slabs could form.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2