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

Mar 28th, 2022–Mar 29th, 2022

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

Regions

Vancouver Island.

Keep a close eye on how the temperature and sun are affecting the snowpack in your local zone. The freezing level is forecasted to rise well into the alpine for Tuesday morning, but other factors may keep the upper snowpack cool, lowering avalanche danger. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather. A small change in the upper snowpack could dramatically change avalanche conditions.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. No new rain/snow expected. Light north ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to near 3000 m. 

TUESDAY: No overnight refreeze is expected. Mostly cloudy. Moderate to strong south ridgetop wind. Freezing levels drop over the day to 1500 m.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Possible light snow/rain. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels falling to around 1000 m. 

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Very light snow/rain expected. Light to moderate northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 1200 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, small, loose wet avalanche activity in the top 10 cms was most active on steep slopes in the sun.  

If you venture into the mountains, please share any observations on the Mountain Information Network. 

Snowpack Summary

Moist snow or a melt freeze crust exists to mountain top. The crust may break down as temperatures rise, and on south facing slopes as the sun pokes out.

Terrain and Travel

  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.