A significant storm is hitting the South Coast ranges tonight and may spill over in this region.
Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow Friday.
Relentless southerly winds will keep transporting snow to develop wind slabs at upper elevations. As they form, they will be increasingly creative. Rider-triggerable avalanches will be possible, especially on steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
Thin naturally triggered wind slabs were observed on the Coquihalla in the past 24 hours. A natural storm slab was also observed on a north-easterly aspect at 1800 m on Tuesday near Yak Peak. Old evidence of loose dry avalanches out of steep, north-facing terrain near treeline and loose wet avalanches out of steep solar aspects at all elevations may still be visible.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Surfaces are variable according to aspects and elevations. At low elevations, a moist or crusty surface has likely formed. At upper elevations, shady wind-sheltered areas may still hold dry, low-density snow. Last week's storm (30-50 cm) has seen some evidence of wind loading near ridge tops. This snow appears to be bonding well to underlying surfaces, including melt-freeze crusts. Snow at low elevations is rapidly settling out.
The mid and lower snowpack consists of several old crusts and facetted snow that continue to be monitored, particularly in shallow snowpack areas.
A warm system is crashing into the nearby South Coast ranges Thursday night, bringing wet snow or rain. Warm & windy conditions are expected to impact the region over the weekend.
Thursday night
Cloudy. Isolated flurries or light rain. Moderate south wind gusting 40 km/h. Alpine low 0 °C. Freezing level steady around 1800 m.
Friday
Cloudy. Isolated flurries. Local amounts 5-10 cm. Moderate southwest wind gusting 50 km/h. Alpine high -2 °C. Freezing level lowers to 1500 m.
Saturday
Cloudy. Isolated flurries up to 5 cm. Moderate southwest wind gusting 50 km/h. Alpine high -3 °C. Freezing level rises to 1300 m.
Sunday
Snow 15-20 cm. Moderate southwest wind gusting 50 km/h. Alpine high -4 °C. Freezing level steady around 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
