Regions
Vancouver Island.
Many reports of ski and sled accidental triggers of size 1 to 1.5 avalanches Saturday (after the Friday storm cycle).
One size 1.5-2 accidental from Mt Cains East Bowl (no injury or lost gear)
Numerous size 1-2.5 naturally triggered avalanches in the alpine and treeline elevation bands from steep cross loaded features, chutes and obvious start zones (most likely released during the storm Friday into saturday).
Past Weather
10 to 25 cm of new snow fell Friday into Saturday morning with strong winds from the SE ending with NW. Winds flip-flopped back and forth from strong to mod SE to NW over the weekend transporting storm snow at upper elevations. Temps remained cool over the weekend until Sunday mid day when positive temps shot up to approx 1700 m.
Weather Forecast
Light amounts of precip over the next three days with temps hovering near or just below 0 degrees. Next half decent new snow arriving late Wed into early Thurs.Monday - no new snow, winds moderate NW, temps 1 to 3 degrees, freezing level up to 2000 m mid day.Tuesday - trace to 2 cm of new snow, winds strong SW dropping to moderate NW, temps 0 to -3, freezing level 1000-1300 m.Wednesday - 1 to 3 cm of new snow (later in the day), winds light to moderate SW-SE, temps 0 to -2, freezing level 0-900 m
Terrain Advice
Continue to be wary of wind loaded features in the alpine and open treeline as wind slabs will be slow to bond to the crust below.Watch for warming at treeline and below treeline elevations on Monday as loose wet avalanches are a possibility. Avoid exposure to terrain traps during the thaw.
Snowpack Summary
Variable surface conditions. Mainly storm snow over the Jan 31 crust.
Snowpack Details
- Surface: thin crust at lower elevations, mid storm snow from Fri, upper pockets of wind blown snow scoured ridgetops
- Upper: Storm snow from Friday's event bonding moderate to poor to the rain crust from the Jan 31st monsoon rainfall
- Mid: well settled moist snow and numerous crusts
- Lower: well settled
Confidence
High - Weather models in agreement and good field data.
Problems
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.
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.