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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 21st, 2022–Dec 22nd, 2022

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

Regions

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

Yesterdays new snow combined with light to moderate wind has likely formed new wind slab on a variety of surfaces. Monitor closely how this new snow is bonding to old surfaces.

Current snowpack levels remain below seasonal averages, expect hazards to exist just under the new low density snow.

Friday into Saturday is a major weather transition period. Expect high precipitation amounts, warming temperatures and a rapidly rising avalanche danger.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported. Keep sharing your experiences and observations by submitting a MIN report!

Snowpack Summary

Yesterday snow totals of 10-20 cm of low density snow varied within the forecast area. The southern portion of the island did however receive the greatest amounts. This new snow has fallen on a variety of surfaces from an unsupportive sun crust on southern aspects, to heavily wind affected hard surfaces on open exposed terrain and in isolated terrain protected from the wind newly formed surface hoar. The snowpack continues to present as thin and averages 130 cm deep at tree line.

Down approximately 70 cm, a buried layer can be found that contains decomposing surface hoar crystals. There is also a layer of weak, sugary crystals near the base of the snowpack. During testing, these layers are producing hard results and no reports of avalanches occurring on these layers have been observed or reported.

Weather Summary

An arctic air mass will remain over the entire region and this forecast area will continue to see mostly clear skies, cold temperatures and light to moderate north wind. Beginning early Friday, an expected storm front will deliver a generally warm air mass that will bring heavy snow fall followed by warming temperatures and rising freezing levels.

Wednesday night

Mostly clear. North east wind at 20-30 km/h at ridge tops. Low of -18 ˚C.

Thursday

Partly cloudy. Northwest wind at 20 km/h at ridge tops. High of -12 ˚C.

Friday

Snow 10-20 cm. Southwesterly wind at 40 km/h at ridge tops. High of 0 ˚C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

Saturday

Snow and Rain for a potential of up to 100 mm. Southeasterly wind at 20 km/h at ridge tops. High of 3 ˚C. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

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.