Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin

Date Issued: Monday 01 February, 2010, 21:00hrs.

Valid Until: Thursday 04 February, 2010.

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:

Precipitation has been light in the Island Alps From Saturday to Monday bringing from about 4 to 10mm of rain or snow as water equivalent. Freeing levels where up for the earlier part of the period meaning rain to at least tree line until Sunday afternoon and a little snow after that. Winds remained light to moderate from the S, SE and E.

The outlook is for precipitation to continue to be light with totals for the forecast period of less than 10mm for the east and north island and perhaps a little over 30mm for the west coast. Freezing levels will fluctuate between about 1000 and 1400m. Winds will be light to moderate from the SE through SW.

Avalanche Activity:

Loose wet snow avalanches out of steep terrain were observed over the week end.

Snow Pack:

A well settled snow pack has received mostly light rain below tree line and a little bit of snow near tree line and above.

Travel Advisory:

Travel is generally safe. Always be prepared for back country travel and keep an eye out for wind slab in the alpine.

Outlook:

The outlook is for precipitation to continue to be light with totals for the forecast period of less than 10mm for the east and north island and perhaps a little over 30mm for the west coast. Freezing levels will fluctuate between about 1000 and 1400m. Winds will be light to moderate from the SE through SW.

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.