Vancouver Island

Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day. They may be reactive to rider triggering by early afternoon.

No new avalanche observations were reported on Wednesday.

Observations are very limited at this time of year, please consider sharing any information or photos you have on the Mountain Information Network to help guide our forecasts.

35-50 cm (rain below 600 m) of recent storm snow has settled and bonded, however, the strong southerly wind and new snow expected on Thursday may build fresh and reactive wind slabs on leeward slopes above 1000 m.

At upper elevations, the recent snow is likely sitting on hard surfaces on windward aspects and settled old snow on northerly aspects. Below 1400 m, the recent snow is sitting on a crust on all aspects.

The middle and lower snowpack are strong and well-bonded.

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with new snow at upper elevations seeing 5-10 cm. Ridgetop winds 20-35 km/hr from the southeast. Temperature at treeline around -3 C and freezing levels 500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with new snow 10-20 cm by the afternoon. Ridgetop wind 70-80 km/h from the southeast. Temperature at treeline around -1 C with freezing levels near 1000 m.

Friday

Cloudy with isolated flurries 3-10 cm. Ridgetop wind 15 to 5 km/h from the southwest. Temperature at treeline around -1 C and freezing level near 1000 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with light precipitation. Ridgetop wind 50 km/h from the southwest. Temperature at treeline and into the alpine above 0 C and freezing level rising to 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
• Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
• Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.