Avalanche forecast

Vancouver Island

Mar 28 – 29, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Tune in to the changing conditions of elevation, aspect, and time of day.

Be cautious in wind-affected terrain and avoid steep sun-exposed slopes and overhead hazard when air temperature is warm or the sun is strong.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Easterly winds have redistributed 10-30 cm of recent storm snow into wind slabs in exposed areas in the alpine.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Warm temperatures and strong sun may create wet loose avalanche in steep south-facing terrain.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Friday near Mount Cain, our field team observed small (size 1.5) dry loose avalanches as new snow was exposed to daytime warming and solar input.

If you head into the backcountry, consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network!

Snowpack Summary

Surfaces cycling diurnally between crust and moist snow on steep southerly aspects and below 1600 m. Otherwise above 1600 m, 10-30 cm of snow from last week has been redistributed by easterly wind.

The mid and lower snowpack are well consolidated and strong.

Weather Summary

Tuesday night

Clear. Light northeast wind. Alpine low -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

Sunny. Light northwest wind. Alpine high +5 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Thursday

Increasing cloud. Light southerly wind. Alpine high +3 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Friday

5-15 cm of new snow. Moderate southwest wind. Alpine high -1 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet

Regions covered