Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Date Issued: Thursday 26 November, 2009

Valid Until: Sunday 29 November, 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 - Field observations are limited.

Weather:

Depending on the location between 70 to 130mm of water fell over the Vancouver Island Mountains between Wednesday and Thursday. With the onset of this system the freezing level spiked to at least 2000m meaning the most of the precipitation came as rain to the tops of the island mountains though a little bit may have fallen as snow in the high alpine at the tail end of the storm. Winds reached 50 to 60kph mostly from the south. The outlook is for a mix of sun and cloud Friday with snow starting Friday night bringing 5 to 15cm before it turns to rain Saturday morning. With freezing levels likely rising to over 2000m again the snow that does fall will get soaked by about 10-20mm of rain later Saturday. As night falls the freezing levels may drop some turning the rain to snow again but likely only in the vicinity of tree line and above. On sunday expect cloudy weather with the freezing level hovering around 1700-1800m. Winds are expected to remain light from the NW and W on Friday and light to moderate from the SE and S on Saturday and Sunday.

Travel advisory:

On Friday with temperatures remaining cooler the snow pack should be pretty well “locked up” but be aware that with the tail end of the storm possibly having delivered snow to the alpine that the potential is there for human triggered avalanches in some locations. Precipitation coming as a mixture of rain and snow at and above tree line on Saturday will mean that the possibility of loose snow avalanches exists there on that day. Use caution in steeper terrain. 

Outlook:

a mix of sun and cloud Friday with snow starting Friday night bringing 5 to 15cm before it turns to rain Saturday morning. With freezing levels likely rising to over 2000m again the snow that does fall will get soaked by about 10-20mm of rain later Saturday. As night falls the freezing levels may drop some turning the rain to snow again but likely only in the vicinity of tree line and above. On sunday expect cloudy weather with the freezing level hovering around 1700-1800m. Winds are expected to remain light from the NW and W on Friday and light to moderate from the SE and S on Saturday and Sunday.

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.