Avalanche Forecast

High -

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Heavy snowfall transitioning to rain as freezing level rises to 1800 m by the morning, snow accumulations of 30-60 cm at higher elevations, strong wind from the southwest.THURSDAY: Heavy rain and/or snow with freezing level peaking around 1800 m in the morning then dropping to 1300 m throughout the day, possible accumulations of 40-80 cm at higher elevations and mix or rain and snow at treeline elevations, extreme wind from the southwest.FRIDAY: Another 30-50 cm of snow at higher elevations, freezing level steady around 1200 m, moderate to strong wind from the southwest.SATURDAY: Cloudy with some sunny breaks, light wind, alpine temperatures slightly below freezing in the morning and slightly above freezing in the afternoon.

No avalanches have been reported in the past few days.

Fresh storm slabs will form on Wednesday night and then get soaked with heavy rain on Thursday. The rising then dropping freezing level makes it hard to predict the rain/snow mix and the exact properties of the storm slabs throughout the day, but regardless, all the ingredients for dangerous avalanche conditions are there.The new snow is falling on a widespread crust that extends at least to 1500 m elevation. At the highest elevations in the north of the region near Squamish, there could be a weak layer of feathery surface hoar roughly 50 cm below the new snow. Otherwise, the lower snowpack is well-settled.