Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Island, North Island, South Island, Vancouver Island, West Island.
An isothermal snowpack is present at most elevations, and light rain will continue to weaken it. Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche was reported, but field observations are limited. Old debris of large natural wet avalanches from the past weekend's storm is still visible throughout the region.
Snowpack Summary
30 cm of moist to wet snow is overlying 20 cm of rain-soaked snowpack burying a strong melt-freeze crust. In the alpine, the recent storm snow is dense and rapidly settling with a surface crust due to wind.
A sandwich of surface hoar and faceted snow from late January crust is now down 100 to 150 cm. At lower elevations, rain has soaked the snowpack. The lower snowpack is well-settled.
Read about the conditions in the Beauforts by our field team on Tuesday.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear. 50 to 70 km/h south west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3°C. Freezing level reaching 2500 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with light rain, 5 to 10 mm. 60 to 80 km/h southwesterly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3°C. Freezing level around 2200 m.
Friday
Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5°C. Freezing level reaching 2500 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with isolated flurries. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2°C. Freezing level around 2200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.