Regions
Vancouver Island.
No new avalanches reported.
Confidence details: Limited recent public observations submitted to island forecasters. Thanks to those of you who have submitted observations. The freezing level tonight (Tuesday night) into tomorrow morning will dictate the stability trend and riding conditions for the next several days.
Past Weather
A series of days with a rising air temperature and forced the snowpack into a spring melt - freeze cycle early this week.
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: 10cm Snow to 20cm throughout forecast area, (unfortunately, the freezing level will spike (1500M) overnight (Tues night) during the peak of forecasted precipitation and therefore we may see Rain for the Treeline elevation band and below Treeline Elevation band. Winds Strong to Extreme from the SW will ease and shift to Moderate NW winds in the morning throughout much of the forecast region. Freezing level 1,500M overnight Tuesday night into early hours of Wednesday morning and cooling to 1200M in the morning, continued cooling and decreasing freezing level throughout much of the day (Wed).Thursday: Less than 1cm snow throughout forecast area, Winds Moderate from the NW (gusting to Strong), Freezing level 1,000MFriday: No snow expected throughout forecast area, Winds Moderate from the NW, Freezing level 1300M.
Terrain Advice
Practice patience and allow time for new storm instabilities to stabilize prior to committing to any steep terrain.Plan routes and choose terrain that is low angle and supportive as you begin to venture into unmodified and uncontrolled snowpack and terrain.Identify and avoid travel either above or below cornice features.Adjust travel plans to ensure avoidance of slopes during warming and where rain events may occur.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow over the weekend has settled and consolidated at higher elevations. At the Treeline and Below Treeline elevation band, a melt freeze cycle has begun to take shape and has also consolidated the upper snowpack into a well bonded/bridged snowpack.
Snowpack Details
- Surface: On Wednesday, a storm cycle will deposit snow/possibly rain onto the surface as the freezing level teeters on the verge of being a powder day or a wet storm snow day
- Upper: Well bonded and dense moisture laden snowpack
- Mid: well settled due to melt freeze cycle snowpack has undergone
- Lower: well settled and dense
Problems
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.
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.
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.