Vancouver Island

carefully assess new snowfall amounts, if you observe greater than 20cm of new snow expect sensitive storm slabs.

On Saturday explosive control on the east side of the island triggered a size 1.5 wind slab on a north aspect at treeline. This avalanche ran on the crust from late January.

Up to 70cm of new snow has accumulated above 700m with ongoing southerly wind impacting open terrain. This snow has fallen above a melt-freeze crust. The crust is up to 10 cm thick at lower elevations and tapers down to 1 cm thick on shaded or high elevation terrain. Below this crust, the snowpack is generally strong and bonded.

As the freezing level rises the snow surface below treeline will become wet.

Check out this MIN from our field team to learn more.

Sunday Night

increasing cloud with around 5cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Light to moderate west winds shifting to southwest. Freezing level around 1000m.

Monday

Stormy with 5 to 30cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Moderate to strong southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1500m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5 to 15cm of new snow expected. Moderate southwest winds and freezing levels falling throughout the day to 500m.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected. Light southerly winds and a high of -5 at 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
• Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
• Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.