Vancouver Island

Fresh wind slabs may be forming on lee slopes near ridge crests. These slabs may be reactive where they overlie weak layers of surface hoar or facets.

A skier accidentally triggered an small (size 1) wind slab avalanche on Friday on Mt. Joan. Check out this MIN for full details.

Around 4-10 cm of new snow may be accumulated at upper elevations by the end of day Sunday. This snow is falling on a variety of surfaces including a crust on sun-exposed slopes, old wind slabs and soft faceted snow in sheltered terrain. In isolated areas, wind slabs may be more reactive where they overlie facets and surface hoar.

The mid-pack contains several other crusts and layers of moist rounded grains.

Below treeline, most areas are below the threshold for forming avalanches.

Saturday Night

Cloudy with 1-4 cm of new snow / light rain, 15-30 km/h southwest alpine wind, treeline temperature 0°C, freezing level dropping to 900m.

Sunday

Cloudy with a trace to 2 cm of snow / light rain, 15-30 km/h southwest alpine wind, treeline temperature 1°C, freezing level 1200 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 2-10 cm of snow / light rain, 15 km/h southwest alpine wind, treeline temperature 3°C, freezing levels 1400 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 1-4 cm of new snow / light rain, 15 km/h southwest alpine wind, treeline temperature 2°C, freezing level 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.