Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 31st, 2023–Apr 1st, 2023

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Human triggered avalanches are most likely where wind has formed deep deposits of new snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We suspect some natural avalanches will occur in alpine terrain during the peak of the storm on Friday night, and then human-triggered wind slabs will remain possible over the weekend as the new snow gradually strengthens.

Snowpack Summary

As the storm winds down on Saturday morning there could be 25 to 40 cm of new snow on the west island and 15 to 25 cm on the east side of the island. In most areas this snow has fallen on moist or crusty snow layers, except for shaded terrain above 1600 m. The new snow is expected to bond well to the old layers in most areas, but could potentially be poor in isolated terrain features. The middle and lower snowpack are strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Cloudy, scattered flurries with 2 to 8 cm of snow, 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -5 °C with freezing level dropping to 500 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm of snow, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -2 °C with freezing level around 800 m.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud with some light flurries starting in the afternoon, 10 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures around -2 °C with freezing level around 800 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny, 30 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures around -1 °C with freezing level around 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.
Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 25cm of new snow.

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.