Regions
Vancouver Island.
No new avalanches observed or reported.
Past Weather
Over the previous forecast period cool temperatures persisted with alpine temperatures dropping to the mid teens. These cool temperatures where combined with light north wind and intermittent light flurries.
Weather Forecast
A parade of winter storms are set to enter our region over the coming forecast period. The initial storms will continue to arrive cool. Fridays storm will deliver increasingly warm temperatures.Wednesday 10-15 cm, Winds strong from the North east, Freezing levels 1000 meters.Thursday trace 30-50 cm, Winds strong from the South west, Freezing levels 500 meters.Friday 10-20, Winds strong from the South east, Freezing levels 500 meters.
Terrain Advice
Seek sheltered and low angle terrain during the incoming storm events, ensure avoidance of overhead hazard. Careful snow pack assessment and selective route finding is essential when entering any convex roll or steep features.
Snowpack Summary
Upper snow pack is variable with wind effect stripping and pressing north aspects and loading and depositing snow on south aspects. Upper snow pack in areas not effected by the wind remains low density and shows little in the way of slab properties. The past warm and wet weather has developed thick and very dense melt freeze crusts that have essentially bridged the snow pack and created a layer that is moderately reactive to testing. The lower snow pack is settled and dense, with a basal instability still present in the upper alpine.
Snowpack Details
- Surface: Variable surface conditions exist from stripped and pressed on North aspects and freshly loaded on south aspects.
- Upper: Up to 30 cm of low density snow and on windward aspects a stiff and dense crust
- Mid: a varity of meflt freeze crusts can be found
- Lower: dense and settled with a faceted basal instability fond on the upper alpine
Confidence
Moderate - Increased field observations.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
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.
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.