Regions
Vancouver Island.
No new avalanches observed or reported over the past forecast period.
Past Weather
Light to moderate winds and snow flurries delivered up to 5 cm of new snow to zones above 600 meters. Temps remained cool with brief periods of freezing levels above 1200 meters.
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure continues to keep any new storm systems at bay. Expect continued unsettled weather with very little precipitation and obscured mountain tops at times.Wednesday: trace amounts of precipitation, Winds Light from the North West, Freezing levels 300 meters with a day time a high of 600 meters.Thursday: No new precipitation, Winds Light to Moderate from the North East, Freezing levels at sea level with a day time a high of 500 meters.Friday: 1 to 5 cm , Winds Moderate to Strong from the North East, Freezing levels at sea level with a day time a high of 500 meters.-
Terrain Advice
Caution when transitioning into terrain with recent wind loading and steep convex roll features.Avoid direct solar terrain during periods of sunshine and daytime warming.Caution above or below cornice features, recent loading has continued to build upon already very large cornices.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow amounts between 80 to 150 centimeters has been transported by the wind and can be found on North west thru to North east aspects. This new load of snow continues to settle and overlies a facet crust combination. Terrain exposed to the wind is stripped and scoured. The persistent slab from February is now down over 200 centimeters and is dormant and currently non reactive to testing . Below the snowpack is dense and well settled.
Snowpack Details
- Surface: Low density and dry.
- Upper: Settling new snow between 100 and 150 centimeters.
- Mid: Old unreactive crusts, overall dense and well settled.
- Lower: Well settled and dense.
Confidence
High - Numerous forecaster field observations and good agreement with weather forecast models.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.