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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 31st, 2024–Jan 1st, 2025

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, 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.

Regions

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

Pay attention to the wind. If it starts to pick up, fresh wind slabs may form at upper elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity has been limited to loose dry sluffing and small (size 1) rider-triggered wind slabs in lee terrain features at upper elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Reports indicate good riding quality in the top 30 cm or so at most elevations. 50 to 80 cm of snow from the weekend is settling and bonding well to an underlying crust.

Below 1300 m, surfaces are moist and/or crusty.

The remainder of the snowpack is thoroughly settled and bonded.

Snowpack depths at treeline are now about 200 cm on the north and south island, and 300 cm on the central island.

Weather Summary

Tuesday night

Cloudy. Isolated flurries bringing 0 to 3 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3°C.

Wednesday

Cloudy. Isolated flurries bringing 0 to 3 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2°C.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.

Friday

Cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing level 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.

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.