Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 16th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada mconlan, Avalanche Canada

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

Use extra caution wherever you find a moist snow surface in steep terrain.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

We didn't received any new avalanche observations for the past couple days.

Looking forward, warm air and sunny skies could form loose wet avalanches during daytime warming, particularly on steep, sun-exposed slopes.

Snowpack Summary

Around 20 to 30 cm of recent storm snow is consolidating and bonding to the snowpack. Thicker deposits may be found in lee terrain features near ridges due to strong southwest wind. With a rising freezing level and sunny skies, expect sun-exposed slopes and low elevations to have a moist snow surface during the day, which may freezing into a hard melt-freeze crust overnight. A dry snow surface should prevail on shaded aspects at higher elevations.

The middle and lower snowpack are consolidated and strong, containing numerous thick and hard melt-freeze crusts.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies with no precipitation, 20 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1000 m.

Friday

Partly cloudy with no precipitation, 20 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature 2 °C, freezing level 1500 m.

Saturday

Partly cloudy with no precipitation, 30 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature 3 °C, freezing level 1600 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with snow or rain, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 30 to 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Sunny skies and a rising freezing level could trigger wet loose avalanches. Best to avoid steep sun-exposed slopes during intense sunny periods. The warming could also cause cornices to become fragile.

Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 17th, 2023 4:00PM

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