Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 6th, 2022–Dec 7th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Fresh wind slabs are expected to form throughout the day as a storm impacts the island. Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing and cracking as snow accumulates.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported, but observations are limited this time of year.

If you head into the backcountry please submit a MIN report! They are extremely helpful to us in the early season when snowpack information is limited.

Snowpack Summary

New snow will burry a variety of wind-affected surfaces and a surface crust that formed in open areas at treeline and below. Warm temperatures over the weekend have settled the fresh snow from last week.

80 to 100 cm of snow can be found in the alpine, with wind-loaded areas up to 150 cm. Every storm brings the snowpack closer to the threshold for avalanches, however some areas at treeline and most areas below treeline have yet to overcome ground roughness.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy. Light northwest winds with a low of -5 in the alpine. Freezing levels 600 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with flurries increasing in intensity in the evening as the storm impacts the island. 10-15 mm expected throughout the day. Strong southerly winds and an alpine temperature high -1. Freezing levels rise to 900m.

Thursday

10-20 mm expected through Wednesday night. Up to 50 mm on the west side of the island near 5040 Peak. By morning heavy precip has moved south of the island leaving isolated flurries. Moderate southwesterly ridgetop winds. Alpine temperature is a high of -5 and freezing levels 900m.

Friday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. Light gusting moderate southerly winds. Alpine temperature is a high of -3 and a low of -6. Freezing levels 900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

Problems

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.