Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Island, North Island, South Island, Vancouver Island, West Island.
Good skiing can still be had in shaded alpine terrain. Seek sheltered features where snow is still soft to limit your exposure to lingering wind slabs.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported in a few days.
Snowpack Summary
A variety of surfaces can be found at upper elevations including a crust on sun exposed slopes, wind slab and soft faceted snow in sheltered terrain. It is possible that wind slab has formed over sugary facets and surface hoar in isolated areas.
The mid pack contains several other crusts and layers of moist rounded grains.
Below treeline, most areas are below the threshold for forming avalanches.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Partly cloudy. 50 to 70 km/h southeast alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1200 m with possible above freezing layer from 1500 m to 2000 m.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy. 40 to 70 km/h southeast alpine wind. Freezing level 1300 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 mm of rain, snow at higher elevations. 30 to 50 km/h southwest alpine wind. Freezing levels 1500 m.
Monday
Mainly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southwest alpine wind. Freezing levels 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slab could still be found on isolated features at higher elevations. These slabs could be more reactive if they overlie facets or surface hoar.
Aspects: North, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5