South Coast Inland

The current forecast calls for very little rain, but each run of the weather models shows more rain than the previous. Despite the recent warm temperatures, the effect of rain on snow could be dramatic. Watch for rapidly changing conditions Friday.

Low - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday

Friday looks to be a pretty funky meteorological period. The good news is that we are expected to return to a more typical stormy winter pattern. The bad news is that we have to endure some rain, perhaps even some freezing rain, before we get back to the snow on Saturday. FRIDAY: Overcast, light inversion with above freezing temperatures between 1500 m and 2600 m, cooler air in the valleys, moderate to strong southerly wind, 1 to 2 mm of precipitation which may fall as freezing rain.SATURDAY: Overcast, freezing level around 800 m, light to moderate southwest wind, 1 to 3 mm of precipitation expected.SUNDAY: Decreasing cloud cover, freezing level around 800 m, light southwest wind, trace of precipitation expected.

On Wednesday numerous loose avalanches to size 1.5 were observed from south aspects at all elevations. On Tuesday reported avalanche activity was limited to snow balling and pin wheels on north aspects.

On Sunday a slight crust began to form on south and southwest facing aspects as warm temperatures and sun combined to moisten the snow surface. By Tuesday the upper 5 cm of the snowpack had started to become moist, even on upper elevation northeast facing features. On December 28th and 29th two successive storms produced 50 to 80 cm of snow. On December 29th and 30th strong to extreme winds out of the southwest, south and southeast created widespread wind effect. Time and warm temperatures have allowed this snow to settle and bond well with the underlying surface. The exception may be with wind slabs in more extreme terrain and isolated pockets of buried surface hoar below treeline. A widespread melt-freeze crust may still be an issue in the northern portion of the region where it's down 50 to 70 cm below the surface, but is likely trending towards dormancy. Around the Coquihalla this interface is now thought to be part of a well bonded mid-pack. The lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.