Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Date Issued: Monday 21 Deceber, 2009

Valid Until: Thursday 24 December, 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 - A ridge of high pressure will give cooler conditions and no precipitation for the forecast period.

Weather:

The island mountains got up to 60mm of water equivalent starting late Saturday to time of writing (late Monday). The west coast and central island alps saw the most at about 60mm while the east coast saw less at 30-35mm and the north island even less at under 30mm. The freezing level rose during the storm turning snow to rain up to above tree line. The forecast is for a ridge of high pressure to build bringing cooler temperatures and no precipitation for the forecast period. Winds will remain generally light from the North.

Avalanche Activity:

Natural avalanches of unknown size (sounding quite large to observers) were reported in the alpine of the central island mountains on Sunday. Natural and ski cut avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported at and below tree line on Sunday and Monday.

Snowpack:

At and below tree line the new snow turned to rain for part of this past storm giving that new snow a soaking. With cooling temps this will freeze up nicely. The high alpine snowpack is a different story with snow having continued through the past event giving 50cm+ on the west and central island and around 30cm elsewhere. There is also the possibility that deeper instabilities exist in the highest start zones from our last arctic outbreak. Any field observations of this would be appreciated.

Travel advisory:

Tree line and below tree line the snow pack got a pretty good soaking when freezing levels rose through this last storm. With cold temperatures now “locking up” this wet snow the hazard diminishes. The alpine is a different story where snow did not turn to rain and there is a lot of new snow and wind slab. We also suspect remaining instabilities from the last arctic outbreak deeper in the pack in the highest start zones. Extra caution is advised in the alpine.

Outlook:

A ridge of high pressure will build bringing cooler temperatures and no precipitation for the forecast period. Winds will remain generally light from the North. Freezing levels will sit mostly between sea level and 600m.

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.