Be mindful of avalanche conditions in alpine backcountry areas near Squamish. Watch for icy snow surfaces on the North Shore.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY NIGHT: 15-20 cm new snow, falling as rain below 1500 m. Strong southerly winds.SATURDAY: Flurries or light snow during the day. Freezing level around 900 m. Moderate westerly winds. SUNDAY: Around 25 mm rain / 25 cm snow at higher elevations. Freezing level around 1600 m. Strong southerly winds.MONDAY: Around 15 mm rain / 15 cm snow at higher elevations. Freezing level around 1500 m. Moderate southwesterly winds.
Avalanche Summary
A widespread avalanche cycle to size 2 has occurred in the neighboring Sea to Sky region. Similar avalanche activity can be expected at higher elevations in the South Coast region.
Snowpack Summary
Recent rain-soaked snow will have frozen into a crust in many places by Saturday morning. At higher elevations near Squamish, it might be possible to find dry snow. For these areas, expect to see highly variable patterns of wind deposits on account of the extreme winds. Also note, it's likely the recent new snow has not bonded well to underlying surfaces.In alpine areas near Squamish, snow depths are now approximately 170 cm.
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.