Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Jan 23 – 24, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Heavy rain and snow just keeps coming, watch for rapidly changing conditions and signs of instability.

If you find accumulations greater than 30 cm, consider the danger to be HIGH.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Heavy snowfall with moderate winds overnight and through the day will create fresh storm slabs. Expect deeper and touchier slabs on north aspects.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Rain has impacted the snowpack. Wet loose avalanches may be triggered in steep terrain, and could run easily on the underlying crust.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural wet avalanche cycle continues with heavy loading from snow, rain and wind. As the freezing levels rise and fall over the course of the day, watch for areas where there is a switch between snow and rain occurring.

Check out this MIN from the Skypilot area that shows the widespread activity.

Snowpack Summary

Rain and warm temperatures have impacted the snowpack to mountain top, creating wet and heavy snow. Fluctuating freezing levels may have created melt-freeze crusts within the new snow.

A crust with softer snow overlying it exists down 40 to 60 cm. This soft snow will rapidly shrink and become denser as it gets drenched with rain. The remainder of the mid and lower snowpack is generally settled and well-bonded.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 15 to 30 cm of snow at higher elevations. Alpine wind southwest 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 15 to 30 cm of snow at higher elevations. Alpine wind southwest 25 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 10 to 20 cm of snow at higher elevations. Alpine wind south 40 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 5 to 15 cm of snow at higher elevations. Alpine wind south 30 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Choose conservative terrain and watch for clues of instability.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.

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