Regions
Vancouver Island.
Confidence
High - High, well aligned weather models.
Travel & Terrain Advice
Slip and fall hazard will persist. New snow is expected to form wind slab on all north aspects. Manage terrain to avoid features such as convex rolls, terrain traps such as cliffs, and other areas with significant wind loading.
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanches observed or reported.
Snowpack Summary
Surface hoar can be found on isolated features protected from both the wind and sun. A robust melt freeze crust up-to thirty cm in thickness can be found on all aspects and observed to 1800 m. This melt freeze crust is bridging or capping the snow pack and provides a reliable indicator of current snow pack stability. During daytime warming, this crust began to slightly break down with moist surface conditions reported on direct solar aspects only. Mid and lower snow pack continues to density and is well settled.
Snowpack Details
Surface: surface hoar on isolated protected areas. Upper: 20-30 cm melt freeze crust. Mid: well settled. Lower: well settled.
Past Weather
Cool and clear conditions have continued to settle and strengthen the snow pack. Reports indicate small surface hoar located in isolated areas protected from both the sun and wind have been observed. Melt freeze crust can be found to 1800 meters and is suspect to have reached above this elevation.
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure will continue to deliver conditions that remain cool and clear with light to moderate north west wind. Late Tuesday a moderately strong low pressure will deliver up-to 10 cm of new snow with light to moderate south west wind.
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.