South Coast

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Heavy precipitation and high freezing levels are creating dangerous avalanche conditions.

Moderate

• Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.
• Uncertainty is due to rapidly fluctuating freezing levels.

On Saturday several small wind slabs and storm slabs were reported in the Sky Pilot area.

Natural avalanche activity is expected to be widespread as heavy precipitation saturates the upper snowpack.

Overnight rain fell onto approximately 60 to 100 cm of recent snow, which overlies a melt-freeze crust from early January.

This rain-on-snow event is likely warming and saturating the upper snowpack, significantly increasing the likelihood of natural avalanches, particularly wet loose and wet slab activity.

The mid and lower snowpack has two crusts that are between 50 and 150 cm deep. These crusts are not currently a concern.

Sunday Night
Cloudy. 55 to 75 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.

Monday
Cloudy. 30 to 35 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 10 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.

Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 4 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• Avalanche danger will rapidly increase if snow switches to rain.
• Watch for rapidly changing conditions during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.