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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2022–Mar 28th, 2022

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

Regions

Vancouver Island.

Rising temperatures and sun will increase the likelihood of wet avalanche activity at all elevations. 

Take care on terrain features where wet or heavy surface snow is present.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. 5-10 mm of rain at low elevations, wet snow likely above. Freezing levels drop from 1800 to 1500 m as precipitation ends. Moderate southwest winds. 

MONDAY: Skies begin to clear and freezing levels rise to 2000 m. Scattered flurries possible in the morning. Light northerly winds. 

TUESDAY: No overnight refreeze is expected. Freezing levels rise toward 3000 m Tuesday morning and drop over the day to 1500 m with mostly clear skies. Light southerly winds. 

WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with possible flurries. Freezing levels around 1000 m. Moderate westerly winds. 

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported.

We would expect small wet avalanches to have occurred in steep alpine and treeline terrain affected by rainfall and warm temperatures. 

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.

The snowpack below is considered well settled. In most areas, snowpack depths at below treeline elevations are below threshold for avalanche activity. 

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.

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.