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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 21st, 2023–Mar 22nd, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Minimize exposure to steep solar slopes when the sun's impact is making the snow moist or wet.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the region on Monday. Backcountry users will likely see evidence of a small wet loose avalanche cycle from recent rain and solar input below treeline.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

In the upper most alpine you may find 5-10 cm of dry wind-affected snow. A melt-freeze crust covers all aspects to 1600m. Below 1000 m surfaces may remain moist. The middle and lower snowpack are consolidated and strong, containing numerous thick and hard melt-freeze crusts.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Few clouds clear through the night. Light southeast winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature low 0°C. Freezing levels 1600 m.

Wednesday

Mainly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds in the afternoon and isolated flurries, 1-2 mm. Light southwest winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature +2°C. Freezing levels 1600 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with scattered flurries, 5-10 cm accumulation. Strong south winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing levels drop to 1000 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 2-5 cm accumulation. Light northwest winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing levels drop to 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches
  • A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.

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.