Avalanche Forecast

On Sunday, west of Port Alberni, a small, human triggered avalanche was reported. It started as a cornice failure, which pulled out a small slab on the slope below. See the MIN post here for more details.

If you are getting out in the backcountry, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network).

Recent snowfall amounts above treeline have varied across the forecast area, expect the deepest soft snow to be on the west island, and the shallowest on the east, with the north and south being somewhere in between. With fluctuating freezing levels, rain around treeline has likely made the snow shallower, denser, and wetter. At high elevations, any recent soft snow covers a hard, frozen crust.

Below the crust, the rest of the snowpack is generally settled and well-bonded.

Below treeline, the snow is moist or wet and slopes are largely below the threshold for avalanches.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy. No new snow/rain expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -1 °C. Freezing level around 1000 m.

Wednesday

Increasing cloud through the day. Light rain, 0 to 2 cm of snow expected above 1200 m. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around 1 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy. Light rain, generally 5 to 10 cm of snow expected above 1000 m, with 15 to 20 cm possible on the west island. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind, becoming light through the day. Treeline high around 0 °C.

Friday

Mostly sunny. No new snow/rain expected. Light east ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.
• Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.