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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 1st, 2024–Jan 2nd, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Assess conditions as you gain elevation. Slopes at upper elevations that are above threshold for avalanches may have  formed rider triggerable wind slabs.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We expect that avalanche activity will increase at upper elevations with the arrival of fresh snow.

Please help out your backcountry community by submitting a MIN report if you head out to the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

A dusting of snow overlies a hard melt-freeze crust at treeline and alpine elevations. It is possible to find surface hoar over this crust in some locations. Wet snow or dirt exist below treeline.

Various buried melt-freeze crusts are found throughout the snowpack.

Treeline snow depth generally ranges from 50 to 120 cm. Snow depth diminishes rapidly below 1000 m.

Check out this great MIN that describes conditions well.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with around 5 cm of new snow expected, southeast ridgetop  wind 40 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -2°C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 10 to 30 cm of new snow expected, southeast ridgetop  wind 40 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -2°C.

Wednesday

Cloud clearing throughout the day, up to 5 cm of new snow expected in the morning, south ridgetop wind 15 to 25 km/h, freezing level around 1200 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with up to 10 mm of mixed precipitation, southwest ridgetop wind 20 to 40 km/h, freezing level rising to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Avalanche danger is often elevated in alpine gullies where snow has accumulated.
  • Travelling on skis is hazardous due to a very shallow mountain snowpack.

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.