Regions
Vancouver Island.
One avalanche reported in the Beauforts on Northerly terrain. No additional avalanches reported at this time.
Past Weather
A week long spring diurnal cycle ended with the arrival of Thursday's storm cycle which should hold Vancouver Island mountain ranges in a winter pattern for the next several days.
Weather Forecast
Friday: 20cm Snow to 40 cm Snow, (10cm Snow to 15cm Snow for North Island) Winds Strong from the SE (with Extreme SE wind gusts), Freezing level 900M Saturday: Less than 5cm snow throughout forecast area, Winds Light to Moderate from the WSW, Freezing level 850MSunday: 15cm snow to 30cm Snow. Winds Strong from the SSW (gusting to Extreme), Freezing level steady at 900M and spiking in late afternoon to 1,100M.
Terrain Advice
The spring melt freeze cycle is taking a break and we are returning to winter for a few days. By all indications, according to weather models, it looks to be quite a snowy weekend in store for Vancouver Island.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 at the Below Treeline elevation band over weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow and upper snowpack instabilities will be a priority hazard to manage over the storm cycle that won't let up until next week. Generally speaking, the midpack and lower snowpack are well settled despite several layers distributed throughout which are providing results to testing however showing limited actual reactivity in the field by ski/snowmobile traffic.
Snowpack Details
- Surface: Fresh storm snow sitting on a variety of surfaces including melt freeze sun crust and soft snow on North aspects
- Upper: Last weekends storm snow interface with old snowpack is bonding but showing reactivity in unsupported terrain
- Mid: Well settled due to melt freeze cycle snowpack has undergone. Does include a melt freeze crust/small facet interface down 70cm
- Lower: Well settled and dense. Does include a basal melt freeze crust/ facet interface down 120cm
Confidence
High - Dangerous avalanche conditions in areas that receive more than 20cm of snow, likely at higher elevations over the weekend. Thank you CMSilver90 for your Beaufort MIN Report!
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.