Avalanche forecast

Vancouver Island

Feb 2 – 3, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Storm slabs sit over a weak layer and may be easily triggerable by riders.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Storm slabs are not expected to bond well to underlying surfaces and will likely remain reactive to riders through the weekend.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday and Saturday, natural and skier-triggered storm slabs up to size 1.5 were reported on west to northeast aspects near treeline.

Snowpack Summary

30 to 50 cm of new snow has accumulated since Thursday night. Near ridgetops, southwest wind has loaded the recent snow into leeward terrain features. The recent snow is not expected to bond well to underlying surfaces including a hard crust in most areas, or facets and/or surface hoar on high north aspects.

The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and dense with no layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -8 °C.

Monday

Cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.

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