Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2026–Apr 12th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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.

Regions

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

When has a bit of rain stopped an islander from having fun in the mountains? Be ready to manage variably crusty or isothermal snow and lingering cornices if you head out.

Confidence

High

We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported recently, and under current conditions, very little activity is expected. If you get out into the backcountry, post a MIN!

Snowpack Summary

Tuesday's forecast gives us something to look forward to!

Otherwise, cloud cover and light rain continue to work against crust recovery, likely keeping the snowpack near an isothermal state as it continues to melt away. We lost about 20 cm at treeline in the last week.

Although minimal forecast rain doesn't promise much snowpack change, travelers should still watch for slushy, isothermal conditions. Aside from making travel difficult, wet loose avalanche danger can also develop when this condition is in play.

We still have about 170 cm at 1350 m but it's disappearing especially quickly on solar slopes.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, 2 to 3 mm. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, 1 to 3 mm. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with scattered showers, 1 to 3 mm, and a trace of alpine snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Tuesday
Coudy with increasing snowfall bringing 10 to 20 cm of new snow above 1000 m, rain below. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

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.

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.