Regions
Vancouver Island.
No new avalanches observed or reported.
Past Weather
A pacific high pressure has kept the weather machine mostly quiet, clear sky with some fog and afternoon convective clouds. Temperatures have remained cool overnight with freezing levels near sea level and daytime warming causing freezing levels to rise just above the 1000 meter mark.
Weather Forecast
A high pressure to the north east of the island continues to hold on, it will however begin to dissipate and lose strength near the end of this forecast period. Expect clear and sunny sky, little precipitation and overnight cooling with freezing levels dropping to near seas level. Daytime freezing levels are expected to reach 1200 meters during periods of daytime warming. Daily low level cloud banks and valley fog are likely with a weak temperature inversion possible.Beginning Friday, the high pressure will begin to deteriorate; this will allow for storm systems to penetrate the region with an expectation that precipitation in the form of snow will begin to fall on the Island mountain ranges this weekend.Wednesday: No new snow, Winds Moderate from the South East, Freezing levels to 1200 meters.Thursday: No new snow, Winds Moderate from the South East, Freezing levels to 1200 meters.Friday: No new snow, Winds Moderate from the South East, Freezing levels 1200 meters.
Terrain Advice
Careful and cautious route finding when entering into or over convex rolls or steep features.Monitor surface snow conditions to determine the effect of warming and solar. Plan to avoid during daytime warming terrain traps such as cliffs, trees and gully features that will magnify the effect of being caught in a small loose wet avalanche. Avoid traveling both above and below cornice features.
Snowpack Summary
Daytime warming with freezing levels up-to 1500 meters and periods of sun is continuing to settle the snow pack. The surface snow on solar aspects at all elevations is becoming moist with warming temperatures and has seen the development of a sun crust.Alpine and Treeline elevations with exposed ridge tops are scoured down to the Jan 31 melt freeze crust, the crust is supportive to ski penetration. Non solar protected areas still have some preserved and dry snow and surface hoar is beginning to form and survive the daytime melt. The Jan 31 melt freeze crust can be found down as deep as 30 cm and is continuing to bond well. The mid and lower snow-pack is well settled and dense with a few interfaces that are not concerning but are still detectable.
Snowpack Details
- Surface: Variable surfaces conditions range from moist on solar aspects to hard packed and scoured on exposed terrain. Surface hoar has been observed on north aspects and is surviving the daytime heat.
- Upper: A supportive and reactive melt freeze crust down from 15 to 30 cm.
- Mid: A variety of old crusts can be found.
- Lower: Well settled and dense.
Confidence
High - Good model agreement and numerous field observations and reports.
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.
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.