Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Island, North Island, South Island, Vancouver Island, West Island.
Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
Watch for obstacles that are exposed or just covered by the new storm snow.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported recently. Keep sharing your observations by submitting a MIN report! They are especially helpful in the early season when snowpack information can be limited.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of low-density snow has fallen onto the region, with the greatest amounts in the south. Below this, the surface is a variety of crusts and/or heavily wind-affected snow in exposed areas. The snowpack is still thin and averages 130 cm deep at treeline.
Down approximately 70 cm, a buried layer contains decomposed surface hoar crystals. There is also a layer of weak, sugary crystals near the base of the snowpack. Neither of these layers has produced avalanches, but uncertainty remains on the effect of cold temperatures on these deep layers.
Weather Summary
In the wake of the frontal system Tuesday night, the arctic air mass will return to the region with clear skies and cold temperatures. An abrupt change in the weather pattern is expected for Friday, as warm air will push into the Island.
Tuesday night
Cloudy. Lingering flurries. Westerly wind at 40-50 km/h at ridge tops. Low of -12 ËšC.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy. Northwest wind at 30 km/h at ridge tops. High of -15 ËšC.
Thursday
Cloudy. No precipitation. Southeasterly wind at 40 km/h at ridge tops. High of -12 ËšC.
Friday
Snow 10-20 cm. Southwesterly wind at 40 km/h at ridge tops. High of -4 ËšC. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- 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.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow and moderate winds will likely create wind slabs in open terrain. Wind slabs could be reactive as they overlie a crust, buried surface hoar or hard wind-affected surface. Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
Aspects: North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2