Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Date Issued: Friday 25 December, 2009

Valid Until: Sunday 27 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.

Weather:

We have seen no precipitation since past Monday and a ridge of high pressure has set in with temperature inversion giving warmer air aloft. While sea level temperatures will be cool, temperatures from about tree line up should reach well above freezing. This pattern continues until late Sunday/early Monday when we may get a little moisture coming in the form of light showers and the warmer air aloft perhaps starting to mix with the cold air below. Winds at 1500m up to 45kph from the SE.

Travel Advisory:

Be aware that you can trigger avalanches in the alpine and perhaps at tree line with the warming of inversion and solar radiation. Use caution in steeper terrain particularly on aspects lee to previous storm winds.

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.