North Island

Heavy snowfall and strong winds are building reactive storm slabs. Human-triggered avalanches are likely.

No new avalanches have been reported this week, but avalanche activity is expected to increase as the snow piles up.

If you are going out in the backcountry, please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network (MIN) report.

Fresh snow falling with strong gusty winds will accumulate through Saturday.

The upper snowpack is a series of crusts with moist snow between. The lower snowpack is well-settled with no layers of concern.

Snow depths at treeline vary across Vancouver Island from 230 cm near Mt. Washington to 130 cm near Mt Cain. This current storm forecasts the highest precipitation amounts between Cambell River and Port Alberni.

Friday night

Snowing, 10 to 20 cm of snow. 50 to 90 km/h south-southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Saturday

Snowing, 15 to 25 cm of snow. 40 to 80 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Sunday

Unsettled and cloudy. 15 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Monday

Flurries, 10 cm. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• As the storm slab problem worsens, the easy solution is to choose more conservative terrain.