Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Date Issued: Friday. April 24, 2009

Valid Until: Sunday. April 26, 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:

Good - Ridge of High Pressure will remain seated over the Island for the next 3-5 days.

Primary concerns:

• Wet snow avalanches on all aspects up to Treeline and on South facing slopes in Alpine terrain above 1800m

Weather:

Spring is here this week with sunny skies for the next 3 days.  Freezing levels will rise up to 1800m during the forecast period.  No snow or rain is in the forecast.

Travel advisory:

Sunny south facing terrain up high will be a concern over the next few days especially in the afternoon once things start to heat up.  Treeline terrain is starting to thin out so watch for those early season hazards rearing their ugly heads again in the form of stumps and rocks.  Treeline elevations will be isothermal especially at that treeline/below treeline transition.  Caution should be taken on all aspects at treeline.  Below treeline elevations are now mostly all below threshold for avalanches.

Snowpack:

With low freezing levels over the last few days our snow pack up high is locked up nice and tight.  Once the sun hits it however expect the surface to weaken quickly on solar aspects and at treeline elevations.  Wet slab avalanches with potential to go to ground or to deep weak layers are always possible at this time of year so watch whats above your head,Avalanche Activity:

No new avalanches have been observed over the last 72hrs.

Outlook:

Sun!

cu.

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.