Avalanche forecast

Vancouver Island

Mar 27 – 28, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Tune in to the changing conditions of elevation, aspect, and time of day.

Be cautious in wind-affected terrain and avoid steep sun-exposed slopes and overhead hazard when air temperature is warm or the sun is strong.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Easterly winds are expected to have redistributed 10-30 cm of recent storm snow into fresh, reactive wind slabs in exposed areas in the alpine and treeline.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Warm temperatures and strong sun may create wet loose avalanche in steep south-facing terrain.

    Keep in mind, that wet loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Around Mount Cain on Friday, our field team observed small (size 1.5) dry loose avalanches occurring when new snow was exposed to daytime warming and solar input.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

In terrain above 1600 m, 10-30 cm of preserved dry snow has been affected by recent easterly wind. A crust can be found on the surface below 1600 m.

The mid and lower snowpack are well consolidated and strong.

Weather Summary

Monday night

Clear. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -3 °C. Ridge wind east 30 km/h to 70 km/h. Freezing level 1200 metres.

Tuesday

Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 3 °C. Ridge wind east 20 to 75 km/h. Freezing level rises to 1600 metres.

Wednesday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 7 °C. Ridge wind light from the north. Freezing level rises to 1900 metres.

Thursday

Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 3 °C. Light easterly ridge wind. Freezing level rises to 1600 metres.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.

Regions covered