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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 18th, 2023–Mar 19th, 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, 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.

Cloud cover and wind will likely keep surface conditions cool and avalanche danger low. Watch for changing conditions throughout the day if the sun appears or temperatures rise.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Wet loose avalanches have been reported in areas that received strong sunshine and warm temperatures. Check this MIN out for a great overview of recent conditions.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow is settling and bonding to the snowpack. Deeper deposits may be found in north facing terrain features near ridges due to strong southwest winds. With a freezing levels remaining high, expect the surface snow at low elevations to be moist, which may freeze into a hard melt-freeze crust overnight. Solar aspects may hold a melt freeze crust into the alpine from sun affect. A dry snow surface may remain on shaded aspects at higher elevations.

The middle and lower snowpack are consolidated and strong, containing numerous thick and hard melt-freeze crusts.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Increasing cloud, freezing levels remain high around 1500 m. Moderate southerly winds.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with strong southeasterly winds. 5 cm of snow expected. Freezing levels drop to 1000 m over the day. Another 5 cm possible overnight. Alpine high temperature around 0.

Monday

Cloudy with light to moderate southwesterly winds. Freezing levels around 800 m. Light snowfall continues, up to 5 cm.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud with light easterly winds. Trace accumulations. Freezing levels around 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.