Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 19th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
rbuhler,
Avalanche Canada
The storm is expected to produce rainfall to mountain top elevations overnight but some new snow may accumulate in the high alpine on Thursday as freezing levels drop. If you find new snow up high, watch for wind slabs in leeward features.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
A storm system impacts to the coast Wednesday night and Thursday before a warm ridge of high pressure establishes on Friday.
Wednesday Night: Precipitation 15-30 mm, wind becoming strong SW, freezing levels reaching around 2600 m.
Thursday: Precipitation 5-15 mm, strong W wind, freezing levels 2500 m dropping to around 1200 m through the day.
Friday: A mix of sun and cloud, moderate to strong NW wind, freezing levels climbing to around 3000 m.
Saturday: Mainly sunny, moderate to strong NW wind, freezing levels around 3200 m.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity have been reported over the last few days.
Observations remain limited. If you head out into the mountains, please share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Heavy rain and warm temperatures have saturated the surface snow to mountain top elevations and a widespread crust is now expected where the snow surface has refrozen. Below this crust, snow is moist down 25-50 cm and several old crusts are now breaking down. The middle and base of the snowpack are well settled and strong, consisting of well bonded snow and various hard melt-freeze crusts.
Terrain and Travel
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Rain is generally expected to mountain top elevations overnight but snowfall is possible in the high alpine on Thursday as freezing levels drop during the day. If you find new snow, wind slabs should be expected in lee features.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Another rain event is not expected to have much of an impact on a snowpack that has already been rain-soaked but wet loose avalanches are possible on very steep slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 20th, 2022 4:00PM
