The likelihood of avalanches will increase throughout the day with heavy rain / wet snow.
Avoid avalanche terrain and minimize overhead exposure during this period.
At upper elevations, storm slabs will be developing, with the upcoming precipitations expected Thursday and Friday. Natural avalanches will be increasingly reactive as the storm progresses.
Moderate to heavy precipitations are expected throughout the day Thursday and overnight. As freezing levels rise, rain will fall at most elevations (below 1200 m). Rain on snow events could rapidly destabilize the snowpack and create loose wet avalanches.
An avalanche cycle is expected to occur from Thursday to Friday morning, with forecasted rising freezing levels and heavy precipitations.
Over the past weekend, lots of loose dry sluffing was reported in MINs. Small skier-triggered storm slabs (size 1) were also reported in immediate lees of ridge tops and convexities in the recent 30-50 storm snow.
If you head out in the backcountry, consider sharing your observations with us on the Mountain Information Network!
A moist or crusty surface has likely formed on southerly aspects and below 1000 m over the last few days. 30 to 50 cm of recent snow (above 500 m) appears to be bonding well to an underlying melt-freeze crust. The middle and lower snowpacks are strong and well-bonded.
A frontal system will stall over the BC coast overnight Wednesday. Wet, warm & windy conditions are expected to ease on Friday before another system impacts the region for the weekend.
Wednesday night
Snow. Local amount up to 5 cm. Strong southerly wind gusting 60 km/h. Alpine low -3 °C. Freezing level around 900 m.
Thursday
Rain. Snow at higher elevations only. Local amount 20-30 mm. Strong southerly wind gusting 50 km/h. Alpine high -1 °C. Freezing level rises to 1500 m. Heavy precipitations at night 30-40 mm.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. Isolated flurries up to 5 cm. Moderate southwest wind. Alpine high -1 °C. Freezing level at 1500 m.
Saturday
Snow. Local amount up to 15 cm. Strong southerly wind gusting 60 km/h. Alpine low -2 °C. Freezing level around 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
