Vancouver Island

Rising temperatures are increasing the chance of avalanches.

Monitor conditions as they change through the day.

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.

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.

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.

• 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.