Vancouver Island

With few recent field observations, we have uncertainty around conditions in much of the region. Make observations and assess conditions as you travel.

Monday night: Snowfall 5-10 cm, 60-70 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -1 C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Tuesday: Flurries around 5 cm, 50-60 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -4 C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Wednesday: Flurries bringing a trace, 30-40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -5 C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Thursday: Snowfall bringing 5-15 cm, 40-60 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -4 C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Explosive control work on Sunday produced wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5. Small loose wet avalanches were reported in the afternoon.

Small amounts of new snow and southwest wind are incrementally accumulating wind slabs in lee terrain features. 

30-50 cm of recent snow appears to be bonding well to a widespread hard melt-freeze crust found across the region. The crust is thickest at low elevations and on sun-exposed slopes. The crust may not exist on high alpine terrain on north aspects.

The remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.

Below treeline, snowpack depths are below threshold for avalanches in many areas.

• Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
• Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.
• Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.