Rain and snow will add load and stress the snowpack. Give the snowpack time to stabilize.
Confidence
Low - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT: Heavy rain, 35-40 mm. Strong southwest wind with extreme gusts. Freezing level 2000 m..FRIDAY: Snow and rain mix, 15-25 cm snow. Moderate southwest wind with strong to extreme gusts. Freezing level dropping to 1400 m through the day.SATURDAY: Wet flurries, 10-15 cm snow. Moderate southeast wind gusting to strong. Freezing level 1000 m.SUNDAY: Flurries, 10 cm snow. South wind light gusting to strong. Freezing level 700 m.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches have been reported in the region. Please submit any observations you have to the Mountain Information Network here.
Snowpack Summary
Fresh snow overnight Wednesday turned to a snow/rain mix on Thursday accompanied with strong winds and high freezing levels. More precipitation is expected overnight Thursday as freezing levels drop. The fluctuation freezing level makes it hard to predict the rain/snow mix and how the new storm snow is bonding to the old surface. Under the new new snow is 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.
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.