Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 30th, 2023–Dec 1st, 2023

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

Regions

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

Assess new snowfall amounts as you move through terrain. Rider triggerable wind slab could have formed in alpine gullies and similar features.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

So far this season no avalanches have been reported on the Island.

Please consider filling out a MIN report if you are out in the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25 cm of new snow will overlie a crust at all elevations. In the alpine and upper treeline this new snow could form rider triggerable wind slab on isolated slopes that are above threshold. Think gullies and similar features.

Snowpack height at treeline currently ranges from less than 30 cm at Mt Arrowsmith to around 50 cm in Strathcona Park to 30 cm at Mt Cain. snowpack depths are deeper only in areas where the wind has drifted it in. Below treeline at best there is just a dusting of new snow.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy, trace to 10 cm of new snow expected with highest amounts on west side of the Island, southeast ridgetop wind 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -3°C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy, trace to 10 cm of new snow expected, west ridgetop wind 10 to 25 km/h, freezing level rising to 1200 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud, trace to 20 cm of new snow by early morning with greatest amounts on the west side of the Island, southwest ridgetop wind 15 to 25 km/h, freezing level rising to 1200 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy, up to 50 mm of precipitation expected with the greatest amounts on the west side of the Island, south ridgetop wind 35 to 45 km/h, freezing level rising to 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
  • Expect shallow snow cover that barely covers ground roughness.
  • Travelling on skis is hazardous due to a very shallow mountain snowpack.

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.