COVID-19 Updates

All ski areas are now closed in British Columbia due to COVID-19.

Avalanche Canada has also announced that it will be ending avalanche forecasts for the season at the end of this week due to Covid-19.

Statement from Avalanche Canada (issued March 24th):

Avalanche Canada will issue its final forecast for the season on March 28, which is about a month earlier than normal. The final three-day forecast will remain in effect until March 30.

Avalanche Canada’s forecasts rely primarily on data from a network of avalanche professionals across western Canada. The early closure of backcountry operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic has cut off much of that data stream, so the warning service is no longer receiving enough information to issue accurate forecasts.

This decision to end forecasting early is also prompted by concerns for the healthcare system during this epidemic. “We do not want to provide a service that promotes recreating in mountainous terrain, where there is often significant hazard,” explains Executive Director Gilles Valade. “Both BC and Alberta have declared a state of emergency. Our health authorities, as well as our Prime Minister, are urging people to stay home. This is clearly not the time for taking any sort of risk.” 

Full Post Here:  https://www.avalanche.ca/news/avalanche-canada-shutting-down-forecasting-for-the

BC Daily Snow for the rest of this season

I will continue to write the British Columbia Daily Snow through mid-April for informational purposes and to provide positive news during this otherwise mostly negative news cycle. During periods of active weather, I will write forecasts daily, and during periods of quiet weather, I will write forecasts every other day.

Weather Forecast

Light to moderate snow will persist across most of BC through the remainder of the day Friday and into Friday night. Additional snow amounts through Friday night will range from 5-15 cm (2-6”) across the Coast Range and 1-10 cm (0.5-4”) across the Interior, favoring the North/Central Columbia.

Across Northern BC, additional snow amounts through Friday night will range from 10-30 cm (4-12”) across the Coast Range and North Rockies, and 2-10 cm (1-4”) across the interior ranges.

Freezing levels on Friday afternoon will range from 1,100-1,300 meters (3,500-4,200 ft.) around Whistler, 1,200-1,500 meters (4,000-5,000 ft.) around Revelstoke, and 1,300-1,600 meters (4,200-5,200 ft.) around Nelson and Fernie, before falling approximately 300 meters (1,000 ft.) on Friday night.

A series of stronger storms will arrive on Saturday morning, bringing periods of heavy snow each day from Saturday through Monday that will add up to significant amounts across both Southern and Northern BC mountain ranges. 

Coastal BC and Northern BC should see its heaviest snowfall on Saturday, though significant amounts are expected on Sunday and Monday as well. Interior BC will see moderate to heavy snow begin on Saturday, but the heaviest amounts will occur on Sunday and Monday. 

Freezing levels will be about the same across all areas on Saturday before a cold front arrives Sunday with freezing levels falling to base areas for most locations. The exception will be across the southern and southeast Interior near the US border, where the colder air will arrive later Sunday night or Monday.

All being said, this looks like an impressive storm cycle, and although there won’t be much in the way of verification as ski areas have stopped recording snow, most areas should see heavy totals add up over the 3-day period from Saturday morning through Tuesday morning.

Snow Forecast - Saturday morning - Monday morning (3-day totals):

• Coast Range - 45-90 cm (18-36”)
  
  
• Most of the Interior - 25-50 cm (10-20”)
  
  
• East Purcell, North Okanagan - 10-30 cm (4-12”)
  
  
• Northern BC - Coast Range and North Rockies - 25-50 cm (10-20”)
  
  
• Northern BC - Interior ranges - 10-25 cm (4-10”) 

The heaviest snow should taper off on Monday night, but an unsettled pattern will persist into Tuesday (3/31) and Wednesday (4/1) with additional rounds of lighter snow possible. Starting on Thursday (4/2), high pressure will start to build in from the south, leading to drier conditions to finish out next week. We’ll also see a gradual warming trend occur over the second half of next week after a cold (by late March standards) start to the week.

Thanks for reading! My next forecast will be posted on Saturday (3/28). 

ALAN SMITH  

Geography Key

Coastal BC
Whistler, Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, Mt. Seymour, Sasquatch Mountain, Mt. Washington, Mt. Cain, Coast Range, Coquihalla Summit, Vancouver Island, Coast Range Inland Region

Interior BC - North/Central Columbia
Revelstoke, Rogers Pass, Mustang Powder Cats, Monashee Snowcats, Kingfisher Heli, White Grizzly Cat Skiing, Great Northern Snowcat Skiing, Eagle Pass Heli, Keefer Lake Lodge, CMH Adamants, CMH Gothics, CMH Monashees, CMH Revelstoke, CMH Galena, CMH Cariboos, CMH Valemount, Mike Wiegele Heli, Retallack Heli, Stellar Heli, Selkirk Range, Monashee Range, Central/Western Purcell Range, Western Cariboo Range 

Interior BC - Western Columbia/Okanagan
Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, Apex Mountain, Baldy Mountain

Interior BC - Kootenay Region
Whitewater, Red Mountain, Kootenay Pass, Kokanee Glacier Park, Southern Selkirk/Purcell Mountains, Snow Water Heli, Valhalla Powdercats, CMH Kootenay, CMH Nomads

Interior BC - Lizard Range
Fernie, Island Lake Cat Skiing

Interior BC - East Purcells
Kicking Horse, Panorama, Kimberley, Fairmont Hot Springs, Eastern Cariboo Range, CMH Bobbie Burns, CMH Bugaboos

Northern BC
Shames Mountain, Hudson Bay Mountain, Powder King, Murray Ridge, Northern Coast Range, Skeena Range, Northern Rockies