Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 22nd, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada mconlan, Avalanche Canada

Email

Assess for newly formed slabs if you travel above the rain-snow line. Continue to employ caution in high-consequence terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We didn't receive any reports of avalanche activity over the weekend but suspect that wind slabs could have formed at high elevations above the rain-snow line.

If you head into the backcountry, please consider submitting a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

Rain has left the snow surface wet at lower elevations and a mix of wet snow and hard melt-freeze crust around treeline. Dry snow may be found in the alpine, which has likely been redistributed by strong southerly wind.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong with numerous hard melt-freeze crusts.

Treeline snow depth ranges from 100 to 180 cm. Snow depth diminishes rapidly at low elevations where rain has prevailed for much of the winter.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm snow above 1400 m and rain below, southwest alpine wind 20 km/h, treeline temperature 1 °C, freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm snow above 1400 m and rain below, southwest alpine wind 20 km/h, treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 1500 m dropping to 1100 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 10 to 30 cm snow above 1100 m and rain below, southwest alpine wind 40 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 1100 m rising to 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 10 to 30 cm snow above 1300 m and rain below, southwest alpine wind 30 km/h, treeline temperature 1 °C, freezing level 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New wind slabs may be forming at high elevations with new snow and strong southerly wind. Assess for them prior to committing to big terrain features.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Wet loose activity remains possible where the snow surface is saturated by rain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Jan 23rd, 2024 4:00PM