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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 18th, 2019–Jan 20th, 2019

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Vancouver Island.

Confidence

Low - Intensity of storm Friday and Saturday uncertain.

Travel & Terrain Advice

Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended when the danger rating is high. Be aware of changes in conditions with elevation changes. Avoid wind loaded features and convexities. Cornices will continue to grow and become less stable with the incoming precipitation and wind. Give them a wide berth above and below.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported since the last bulletin.

Snowpack Summary

15-20 cm of new snow falling on Thursday combined with strong winds from the SE have created highly variable surface conditions. Windward terrain has been stripped to the previous strong melt freeze crust. Sheltered and leeward areas will have dense pockets of snow 10-30 cm deep. This new snow seems to be bonding moderately well to the previous old crust and is causing it to weaken and break down.

Snowpack Details

Surface: Wind affected. Scoured in exposed terrain and stiff pockets of new snow in leeward terrain. Upper: Dominated by a strong crust bridging lower layers. Mid: Well settled. Lower: Well settled.

Past Weather

The previous strong ridge of high pressure and associated fog and inversions have been replaced by another series of strong Pacific storms making landfall early Thursday morning. 15-20 cm of new snow fell through the day on Thursday with freezing levels around 1000 m.

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY: 20-40 cm of accumulation above 1000 m with freezing levels around 1200 m. Higher totals in the west. Winds SE strong to extreme later in the day. SATURDAY: 40-65 cm of snowfall, higher amounts to the north and west. Freezing levels around 1000 m. Winds SW extreme early in the day easing to moderate in the afternoon. SUNDAY: 0-3 cm of snow with freezing levels around 750 m. Winds light and variable.

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.