Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Date Issued: Thursday, Feb 26, 2009

Valid Until: Sunday March 1, 2009

Bulletin Area: This bulletin covers the mountainous region of Vancouver Island from the Mt. Cain Ski Area in the North to the Beaufort range to the South including the mountains of Strathcona Provincial Park.

DANGER RATINGS

Confidence:

Fair: Timing and amounts of precipitation as well as exact freezing levels may vary.

Primary Concerns: 

Wind slabs of considerable depths in some locations sitting on a variety of surfaces.

Weather:

Precipitation over the last three days has been highly variable in the island mountains. Whereas some areas saw as little as the previously forecast 15cm others saw as much as 60cm of new snow. 40cm is pretty typical of what we have seen at a number of island locations. Winds were also stronger than forecast rising to moderate at times. There is more snow in the forecast with increasing intensity late Saturday and early Sunday continuing more lightly into the day Sunday. Freezing levels will rise late Saturday to 1000m to 1600m and drop again later Sunday. Precipitation amounts will vary from place to place again but could again reach totals for the forecast period of 40cm to 50cm in places. Winds will rise to moderate to strong SE during the most intense period of the system late Saturday.

Snowpack:

New snow and wind have deposited wind slab in the lees in the alpine and on alpine like featres at tree line. With as much as 60cm of recent snow available for transport by the wind, slabs of considerable depth have been created in the lees. These slabs will be triggerable by skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, climbers and sledders.

Travel advisory:

Avoid travel in avalanche start zones and look out for signs of wind loading in the lees meaning anywhere from North west through North to North East facing slopes. Also look out for cross loaded features. Be aware of overhead hazards and terrain traps below. Alpine and tree line conditions are likely in a transition from Considerable to Moderate at time of writing on Thursday night in that we do not expect to see natural avalanches on Friday but are certain that skier triggered avalanches will be possible. Things will improve slightly on Saturday as the new snow from the last system continues to settle but will get worse again on Sunday with significant new snow and increased winds later Saturday. Travel in avalanche terrain on Sunday is not advised if precipitation amounts and winds are as forecast or greater.

Avalanche Activity:

A skier triggered size one soft slab of 50cm of new snow on the old surface was reported at tree line on the approach to Mount Albert Edward on Wednesday.

Outlook:

More snow in the forecast for Friday with increasing intensity late Saturday and continuing more lightly on Sunday. Freezing levels will rise late Saturday to 1000m to 1600m and drop again later Sunday. Precipitation amounts will vary from place to place again but could again reach totals for the forecast period of 40cm to 50cm in places. Winds will rise to moderate to strong SE during the most intense period of the system late Saturday.

Are you traveling in the island back country?

Send our forecasters your observations. We are particularly interested in hearing if you have observed avalanche activity or If you or a member of your party has been involved in an avalanche. Email your observations to the Island Avalanche Bulletin forecasters at info@islandalpineguides.com

Important Notice: This is a regional forecast and significant variation may exist within the forecast area. The information and danger ratings are intended as a trip planning aid for recreational, backcountry users of avalanche terrain; they are not meant to be used as the sole factor in determining the avalanche danger presented by a specific slope. Always include local weather, snowpack and avalanche observations in your decision to travel in avalanche terrain. Observations and experience may lead to different conclusions from what is reported or recommended. See disclaimer for further details. The technical data used to produce these bulletins is obtained from a variety of sources, including local ski areas and remote weather resources.