Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Nov 28th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet and Wind Slabs.
cgarritty,
VIAC
If persistently high freezing levels prevent a crust from forming, potential for wet loose avalanches in steep terrain will persist too. Reactive new wind slabs should be expected in any alpine areas that saw dry snow accumulate at the end of the storm.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.
Weather Forecast
Sunday night: Rain easing with a final 2-5mm accumulation. Moderate southwest winds easing by morning.
Monday: Mainly cloudy. Light to moderate southwest winds, potentially strong by afternoon. Treeline high temperatures around 0 to +1.
Freezing levels steady around 1700 m.
Tuesday: Moderate snowfall switching to heavy rain by about noon. Strong to extreme southwest winds. Treeline high temperatures around +5 with freezing levels reaching 3000 metres.
Wednesday: Heavy rain switching to light snowfall late in the afternoon. Strong southwest winds. Treeline temperatures dropping from about +5 to +1 over the day as freezing levels return to about 1600 metres.
Avalanche Summary
We haven't yet received any conditions reports in the region. If you go out in the mountains, please post your observations and/or photos to the Mountain Information Network!
Snowpack Summary
Heavy rain has affected the snowpack at all elevations. With a bit of cooling over Sunday night we should see surface crust beginning to form and eliminate chances of wet loose avalanche activity. In areas where crust may fail to form (think lower elevations), this potential could linger.
Early indications of our region's existing snowpack suggest alpine snowpack depths around 150 cm, depth tapering dramatically with elevation to about 30-60 cm at treeline. Snow cover is thin and generally below threshold for avalanches below about 1300 metres.Â
Terrain and Travel
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
- Winter conditions may exist in gullies, alpine bowls, and around ridgelines.
Problems
Loose Wet
Some potential for human triggered wet loose avalanches may still exist on steep slopes at lower elevations if a crust fails to form over the rain-soaked snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Slight cooling toward the end of the storm may have left reactive slabs perched in leeward features at the island's highest elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Nov 29th, 2021 4:00PM
