Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Island, North Island, South Island, Vancouver Island, West Island.
Wind slab size and reactivity will increase with new snow and wind, burying a slippery crust.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported. Looking forward, wind slab avalanches become increasingly likely as new snow accumulates.
Snowpack Summary
As much as 25 cm of new snow continues to accumulate atop a widespread surface crust. Beneath, the upper snowpack is moist. Where still intact, a crust buried in January may be found 100 to 150 cm deep. Below this, the snowpack is well-bonded and stable. At lower elevations, snow coverage is thin.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with 2 to 10 mm/cm of rain/snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 0 to 5 mm/cm of rain/snow. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level around 1600 m.
Friday
Partly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh wind slabs will form as snowfall continues along with wind.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2