Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Island, North Island, South Island, Vancouver Island, West Island.
Watch for reactive pockets of fresh snow in lee features and around steep rolls.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday and Friday, riders triggered small (size 1-1.5) wind slab avalanches in lee features at upper elevations. (Slidetastic 5040 MIN)
On Friday morning, explosives triggered several small wind slab avalanches from steep northerly terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Wind has impacted 20 to 40 cm of settling snow from the last few days at upper elevations. Below 1500 m, surfaces may be moist or crusty.
Recent snow covers 50 to 80 cm of older snow which is bonding well to an underlying crust and lower snowpack. Snowpack depths at treeline average 200 to 300 cm.
Weather Summary
Saturday night
Flurries, 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with sunny breaks. 5 to 15 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Monday
Sunny. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3 °C, freezing level rising to 2500 m.
Tuesday
Sun and cloud. 60 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3 °C, freezing level 2500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Winds have impacted recent snow. Reports suggest the most reactive pockets have been in lee features and northerly aspects.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Loose Wet
Freezing levels are forecast to rise. Fresh snow may quickly lose strength with the first major input of heat.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5