Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 16th, 2019–Jan 18th, 2019

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Vancouver Island.

Travel & Terrain Advice

Minimize travel above and below cornices. A solid melt freeze crust on all aspects and elevations could be a slipping and sliding hazard. Avoid large wind loaded features in the alpine during the incoming precipitation.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches observed or reported over the previous forecast period.

Snowpack Summary

Skyrocketing temperatures and clear skies during the recent inversion period caused all surfaces to become moist and then subsequently re-freeze. This has created a solid, supportive crust on all aspects and elevations. Layers below this dominant crust are being bridged and would require a very large trigger to affect.

Snowpack Details

Surface: Strong supportive melt freeze crust. Upper: well settled. Mid: well settled. Lower: well settled.

Past Weather

Strong inversion recently with high temperatures in the alpine and treeline. Light winds and no precipitation.

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY: No precipitation and freezing levels around 1100 m. Winds moderate gusting to extreme from the east. THURSDAY: 10 - 30 cm accumulation, higher totals in the southern parts of the region. Freezing levels around 900 m. Winds strong from the east. FRIDAY: 35 - 60 cm accumulation above 1000 m. Higher totals in the south. Freezing levels around 1300 m. Winds strong and variable, predominantly SE.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.