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

Jan 12th, 2023–Jan 13th, 2023

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

Precipitation amounts have varied throughout the region with higher amounts focused on the south of the region. Where precipitation has fallen as snow, the avalanche danger is HIGH.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported, however heavy precipitation and extreme winds over the next 48 hours have likely triggered a natural avalanche cycle at upper elevations.

Snowpack Summary

There may be 40-80cm of new snow that has a accumulated through this recent storm at uppermost elevations. It is likely that most areas have seen mostly rain 1700m and below.

There is likely 90-130cm sitting over a thin crust layer above 1000 m. This crust has been highlighted as a critical avalanche layer in recent snowpack tests. Frequent rain has been eroding the already thin snowpack below this elevation.

Snowpack depths at treeline are around 120 cm, tapering quickly with elevation. Although the snowpack in most forested areas below treeline remains below threshold depths for avalanches, many steep bluffs, cutbanks, and alpine features in the upper below treeline band are capable of producing avalanches.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Heavy precipitation overnight bringing 20-40 cm of new snow to upper-most elevations and rain likely below 1600m . Strong to extreme southerly wind. Treeline high temperatures around 0°C with a freezing level around 1800m.

Friday

Continuing rain at all but highest alpine elevations in the morning then tapering off by midday. Strong south wind. Treeline high temperatures around -1 with freezing level around 1700m.

Saturday

Cloudy with flurries at upper elevations. Moderate south wind. Treeline high temperature around -2 with freezing level around 1500

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries. Moderate southerly wind. Treeline high temperature around -4 with freezing level around 1200m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind or rain.
  • Stick to simple terrain features and be certain your location isn't threatened by overhead hazard.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Problems

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.

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.