A large area of north-central Vancouver Island is under an avalanche warning, effective until the end of day Sunday. Photo courtesy Avalanche Canada.
An avalanche warning for recreational backcountry users is in effect for a large area of north-central Vancouver Island and the B.C. south coast.
Avalanche Canada issued the warning Thursday morning and says it is in effect until the end of day Sunday, Feb. 24.
Warning Program Supervisor for Avalanche Canada James Floyer says the range of the warning covers roughly 200 kilometres of major mountain ranges from north of Port Alberni to near Gold River.
Floyer says the risk is for popular winter recreational areas, including out-of-bounds areas on Mount Washington.
Floyer says more snow forecast Friday could help trigger an avalanche because of a weak layer buried about 50 centimetres in the snowpack, adding recent storms have brought snow amounts that have exceeded other areas that normally get higher accumulations, including Whistler.
Officials say mountain slopes steeper than 30 degrees provide a greater risk for an avalanche, with a significant danger increase for slopes over 35 degrees. Floyer equates that to a black or double black diamond hill course at a ski hill.
The concern is for tree line areas about 1,500-to-1,800 metres up the mountainside, where trees become more sparse.
“Human-triggered avalanches will be likely over the weekend, especially on steeper terrain,” Floyer said in a statement.
“The clearing skies and fresh snow will be very inviting but we are urging backcountry users to be extra cautious during this period.”
The avalanche centre says snowpack tests were done Feb. 20 as part of an investigation into a fatal avalanche on Runner Peak Monday, located on Mount Seymour.
Floyer says the avalanche centre is not expecting enough snow to resolve the threat, adding it could get worse before it gets better.
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