Avalanche conditions on the island will reach high risk Friday night

The first Avalanche Canada daily avalanche forecast of the season went live at 4 p.m. Thursday, and according to Vancouver Island Avalanche Forecasters, conditions are already reaching high risk conditions.

Due to recent storms and the predicted incoming storms, high-risk avalanche conditions are expected for Vancouver Island Friday night, said Tyson Rettie, avalanche forecaster for Vancouver Island with Avalanche Canada.

“We expect the big storm overnight and tomorrow with avalanche danger increasing throughout the day,” Rettie said. “You will see the orange on the map change to red.”

On Friday at 4 p.m., the second daily forecast of the season for Vancouver Island will show a change from orange to red, which represents a high risk of avalanches, according to Rettie, and this is because of the incoming wind storm that is expected to continue overnight.

“At the moment, what we’re focusing on in terms of avalanche danger in the near future is the amount of new snow and the wind that will pick it up over the next 24-48 hours.”

With already more snow in the mountains than this time last year, the risk of danger is higher.

“There’s already quite a bit of terrain that’s above the threshold for avalanches, or essentially the snowpack is deep enough for avalanches to happen,” Rettie said.

“We’re expecting quite a bit of snow, especially in deeper areas on the west side of the island. It’s very wintery out there in the mountains,” he said.

READ MORE: Snowy week awaits Mount Washington, a month before opening

On the western side of the island, as much as 50 centimeters could fall during the night. Meanwhile on the eastern side, around Mount Washington, up to 35 centimeters is expected overnight.

“Precipitation and wind are two of the factors we look closely at for avalanche danger. There is already a lot of wind. The third is the temperature,” said Rettie.

While alpine terrain above the treeline is where the snowpack will be deepest and the risk increases, Rettie says there is already enough snow to create avalanche conditions in the treeline, especially “in areas where the trees are thinning significantly or there are more holes and more open slopes,” he said.

It is too early in the season for weak layers, but he is more focused on the amount of snow and the strong winds that create the risky conditions.

“We don’t have any regarding weak layers that we’re currently tracking,” he said, adding that it’s a fairly new, young snowpack and the risk is low unless there’s a significant break in the weather in terms of warmth. temperatures where weak layers can form.

Backcountry alpinists are encouraged to checkk latest conditions

With new features on the website, Avalanche Canada hopes to encourage backcountry enthusiasts of all levels to add reports.

The latest feature allows users to upload photos to show the conditions and terrainand the format is collected on one page so that users can scroll through the information.

“We get tons of value (out of other people’s reports). Avalanche observations are very helpful,” Rettie said.

As for what to include in your report, it might be “a summary of the snowpack, what they see around, is there a lot of new snow, are trees still covered in snow, is it sunny and windy?” says the avalanche announcer.

Regardless of an individual’s skill level in reading avalanche terrain, Rettie says anyone can provide a useful report simply by adding photographs from the day and talking about the weather.

“You don’t have to pretend to be an avalanche forecaster. There’s a lot of information we can get just by using common language and explaining what they’re seeing…

“Even if someone says they had a great day skiing or a good day sledding, there’s often soft snow out there or new snow,” Rettie said. “Even having confirmed fresh snow overnight … or if you had a ‘good time in the mountains because the skiing was good.’

Alpinists should know avalanche signs before they go

When there is a high avalanche danger, Rettie says that high avalanche terrain must be avoided.

“This doesn’t mean don’t go into the mountains or don’t go into the backcountry, you just need to be able to identify the avalanche terrain and avoid it,” he said.

Avalanche skills training are available and encouragedhe adds.

“Make sure you’ve completed an avalanche course. You need to be able to identify avalanche terrain to avoid, and the skills training is one of the things you’re taught.”

The courses also go over the appropriate equipment to have and how to use it so that your first attempt is not during an emergency.

“Practice with it, make sure you know how to use it and get the weather forecast before you head out. Make sure you take a look before you head into the mountains so you know what you’re walking into in to.”

By mid-winter, the site provides about 18 to 24 weather forecasts for western Canada on a daily basis.

The daily forecast goes live at 4pm on Friday 22 November and continues at that time for the season.

For more information, visit Avalanche Canada.

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