An Incoming storm will deliver heavy snowfall to higher elevations in the region on Friday. Expect dangerous avalanche conditions if you are in an area where new snow is accumulating.
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: A storm will impact the South Coast mountains, dropping 25-40cm of new snow at higher elevations. Strong southwest winds will accompany the storm. Winds, snowfall, and a freezing level of up to 1600 metres will peak together in the late afternoon. SATURDAY: 5-10cm of new snow over the day with moderate southwest winds. Freezing level to 1000m. SUNDAY: Clearing in the morning and no new snow, winds light from the northwest, and freezing level to 700 metres.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche observations have been reported but forecast snowfall and wind on Friday will create dangerous avalanche conditions at higher elevations in the South Coast mountains. If you have been out in the mountains, please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
Forecast snowfall and wind on Friday will create deep, widespread, and very touchy storm slabs as low as treeline elevation. At higher elevations, this new snow will overlie existing storm slabs which are rapidly gaining strength. Total snowpack depths are likely around 160cm at treeline and over 2 metres at higher elevations. Aside from instabilities in storm snow, warm temperatures are promoting rapid settlement and strengthening of the snowpack.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.