Avalanche Forecast

Over the next several days (particularly Friday and Saturday) Rain up to 1900M of elevation could exacerbate new storm snow instabilities with additional rain loading of fresh snow. In addition to Rain and snow events, the increased daytime warming coupled with rain on surface snow may exacerbate new storm snow layers leading to avalanches. This particular avalanche problem when triggered could result in a large avalanche up to size 2. Expect this avalanche problem to become more prevalent once the incoming rain arrives in addition to rising air temperature (particularly Friday and Saturday). Location: On all aspects and found at Below Treeline and possibly up to the Treeline elevation band on Friday and Saturday depending on actual volume of rainfall received. Possibility: Triggering of this avalanche problem is possible from light loads such as skiers. Natural avalanches are unlikely. Size: If triggered expect these avalanches to be small, and on isolated terrain features large, size 2.

Strong precipitation in the form of storm snow coupled with strong-extreme winds on Thursday to Saturday could promote wind slab instabilities (particularly in leeward or down wind areas) on Vancouver Island. Expect all Alpine/Treeline environments in leeward/down wind terrain to be likely areas to trigger a wind slab avalanche over the next several days. As of Wednesday evening- windslabs are reported to be 30-60cm in depth in the Mt Washington area, expect these values to increase as additional snowload coupled with high winds arrive again over the next several days. Location: Leeward and down wind aspects at Alpine and Treeline elevation bands. Possibility: Triggering of this avalanche problem is likely (depending on Elevation) from light loads such as skiers or sledders. Natural avalanches are unlikely to likely (depending on Elevation). Size: If triggered expect these avalanches to be up to size 2 OR avalanches could appear on isolated terrain features (very large, size 3).

New snow from incoming storm system will rapidly fall on a variety of surfaces. Expect this new avalanche problem to be initially very touchy to light triggers such as skiers or sledders as strong amounts of precipitation and strong winds arrive. Location: All aspects and at all elevations. New Storm snow may fall as rain at the Below Treeline Elevation Band. Possibility: Triggering of this avalanche problem is likely to unlikely (depending on Elevation) from light loads such as skiers. Natural avalanches are possible to likely. Size: If triggered expect these avalanches to be small (Size 1) -and large (up to size 2) OR avalanches could appear on isolated terrain features (very large, size 3).