Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Vancouver Island.
Keep an eye on the snow surface. As the freezing level rises and the snow surface becomes moist wet loose avalanches will increase in size and likelihood.
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to difficult to forecast freezing levels.
Weather Forecast
Monday night: around 10 mm of precipitation likely falling as rain at all elevations. Freezing levels around 2200 m. Moderate to strong southerly winds.Â
Tuesday: stormy with up to 10mm of precipitation likely falling as rain at all elevations. Strong south winds. Freezing level around 2500 m.
Wednesday: Clearing throughout the day. Possibility of some light flurries bringing 5 cm of new snow at higher elevations. Freezing level falling to 1500 m. Strong southerly winds.
Thursday: Sunny with noe new snow expected. Freezing levels around 1400 m. Light southeast winds.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday ski cutting produced wind slab avalanches up to size two. These avalanches were triggered at treeline on north aspects. We suspect that some wind slab avalanches could still be triggered in the alpine on Tuesday but most avalanche activity will be wet loose.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs could be found at higher elevations on northerly aspects. As the freezing levels rise moist snow could be observed on all aspects and elevations. .
Below treeline, snowpack depths are below threshold for avalanches in many areas.
Terrain and Travel
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
As freezing levels rise the size and likelihood of wet loose avalanches will increase.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs could still be found at higher elevations.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2