Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Island, North Island, South Island, Vancouver Island, West Island.
Periods of low danger can be a good time to explore and increase your exposure.Hard and crusty snow surfaces make for fast travel, but high consequence slips and falls.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
The most recent reports of avalanche activity were on the weekend. We expect triggering avalanches will remain unlikely until the next storm hits the Island on Thursday night.
Snowpack Summary
The majority of the snow surface is expected to be crusty, or potentially moist/wet at lower elevations. This has brought the avalanche danger to low, but also created poor riding conditions.
Dry snow and small lingering wind slabs may persist on northerly aspects at the highest elevations.
The rest of the snowpack is well settled and bonded with several crust scattered throughout.
Snowpack depths at treeline average 200 to 300 cm.
Weather Summary
Wednesday night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2°C. Freezing level 2500 to 3000 m.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud with flurries in the afternoon but no significant accumulation. Southwest ridgetop wind increasing 30 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
Friday
5 to 15 cm of snow overnight then clearing. 40 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud. 50 to 70 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- The snowpack is generally stable; it may be appropriate to step out into more complex terrain.
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.