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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 23rd, 2022–Apr 24th, 2022

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Vancouver Island.

Forecast 10-20 cm of snow at upper elevations and strong southerly wind on Sunday may form small reactive wind slabs on lee features in the alpine.

 Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Partly cloudy with isolated flurries/showers; 0-5 cm / Strong south wind / Low of -1 / Freezing level 1400 m.

Sunday: Snow; 10-20 cm (rain below around 1100 m), and another 5-10 cm overnight / Strong south wind / High of 6 / Freezing level 1400 m.

Monday: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries/showers; 3-10 cm / Light southwest wind / High of 5 / Freezing level 1200 m.

Tuesday: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 5-10 cm / Light southwest wind / High of 4 / Freezing level 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches were reported on Friday.

We currently have very limited avalanche observation data from this region.

Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN). Photos of current conditions and avalanches are the most helpful. 

Snowpack Summary

Forecast 10-20 cm of snow (rain below around 1100 m) and strong southerly wind on Sunday may form small reactive wind slabs on lee features in the alpine.

The recent snow is sitting on a variety of hard snow surfaces, including crusts and wind scoured snow. 

Below this, there are several crusts in the upper snowpack. In areas where there are weak facets sitting on top of the crusts, there is potential for large natural slab avalanches when freezing levels reach mountain tops for multiple days.

Avoid large slopes and avalanche paths during periods of intense warming.

Cornices are very large and more prone to failure during periods of intense warming.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.

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.