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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2025–Apr 14th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Cornice falls may trigger avalanches on slopes below.

Avoid traveling on slopes below cornices and give them a wide berth while traveling on ridetops.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Saturday.

NOTE: Observations are currently very limited in this region.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of recent snow in the alpine and strong southerly wind may have formed wind slabs at upper elevations. The recent snow sits on top a crust.

Recent snow amounts taper quickly with elevation.

The snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

Lower elevations continue to melt out rapidly.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.

Tuesday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.

Wednesday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.