Vancouver Island

High freezing levels and strong solar radiation may be enough to break down surface crusts.

Reduce exposure to steep, sunny slopes during periods of intense sun.

Moderate

• We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.

No new avalanches have been reported.

Natural and human triggered avalanches are unlikely where a supportive surface crust is present.

A crust has formed at the surface over a saturated snowpack that overlies a crust that is breaking down at lower elevations where the entire snowpack is saturated.

Average treeline snowpack depth is 100 cm and tapers rapidly with elevation.

Wednesday Night
Clear skies. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 9 °C. Freezing level 3100 m.

Thursday
Sunny. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 12 °C. Freezing level 3300 m.

Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 35 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
• Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches.
• Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.