Regions
Vancouver Island.
Confidence
High - Benign weather forecast.
Travel & Terrain Advice
A modest accumulation of new snow overlying recent melt freeze crusts and associated wind may produce reactive wind slabs on NW-NE aspects at treeline and above. Many slopes will remain firm and/or have breakable crusts. Variable surface conditions treeline and below and wind loaded pockets in the alpine are the main hazard concerns.
Avalanche Summary
Loose wet natural activity to size 1.5 observed on solar aspects on Alexandra Peak from steep rock faces.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 5 cm of new snow above 1400 metres and rain below on previous old moist surfaces. Strong SE winds have plastered this new moist snow to windward slopes. Recent warming and high freezing levels have had a minimal impact with upper snowpack temperatures remaining cool. Mid and lower snowpack very well settled.
Snowpack Details
Surface: 0-5 cm new snow above 1400 metres, melt freeze crusts. Upper: Melt freeze crusts and moist snow. Mid: Well settled. Lower: Well settled.
Past Weather
Summer-like conditions on Monday produced moist to wet snow at all elevations and aspects. Tuesday started with rain at all elevations turning to wet flurries above 1200 metres. Strong winds from the SE. Accumulations of up to 5 cm.
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Possible light flurries, Freezing level 900 metres. Light to moderate SW winds. Thursday: Clearing, warm during the day with light winds. Freezing level 100 metres. Friday: Mix of sun and cloud, warming with freezing levels to 1400 metres.
Problems
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.