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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 1st, 2024–Dec 2nd, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Rising temperatures are increasing the chance of avalanches.

Monitor conditions as they change through the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported. With rising temperatures, we expects that wet loose avalanches are becoming more likely.

If you are out in the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network (MIN) report.

On Saturday, west of Courtenay, tree bombs were noted as the biggest hazard in this MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

Sun and rising freezing levels will start melting the surface snow. Expect this wet layer to get deeper as the trend continues for a couple days.

Up to 30 cm of snow at upper elevations may be covering surface hoar on sheltered features and a sun crust on steep south facing terrain.

We are not tracking any concerning weak layers in the mid or lower snowpack at this time.

Snow depths vary across the region. Currently near Mt.Washington, 135 cm is reported at 1100 m, and 250 cm at 1500 m.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly clear. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2500 - 3000 m.

Monday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 2500 - 3000 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 25-35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 2500 - 3000 m.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy. 25-35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 2500 - 3000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.

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.