Vancouver Island

Wind slab size and reactivity will increase with new snow and wind, burying a slippery crust.

As much as 25 cm of new snow continues to accumulate atop a widespread surface crust. Beneath, the upper snowpack is moist. Where still intact, a crust buried in January may be found 100 to 150 cm deep. Below this, the snowpack is well-bonded and stable. At lower elevations, snow coverage is thin.

No recent avalanches have been reported. Looking forward, wind slab avalanches become increasingly likely as new snow accumulates.

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with 2 to 10 mm/cm of rain/snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 0 to 5 mm/cm of rain/snow. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Thursday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level around 1600 m.

Friday

Partly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
• Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.