Coast Mountain Weather and Climate

The Coast Mountains surrounding Squamish BC, receive some of the highest precipitation in North America, due to the moist air and storms off of the pacific ocean. Precipitation falls heavier in the winter months from November to April, The best part of this is powder at higher elevations!

The temperature between the lowland coastal areas and the high alpine is usually in opposite, with warmer and mild winters experienced in Squamish, while elevations above the treeline remain below freezing in the winter months. It is important to keep an eye on the freezing level, as this fluctuates frequently across different elevations. Extremely cold temperatures do occur but are rare in the coastal mountains.

Snow Conditions

The typical snow climate in higher elevations is characterized by frequent snowfalls, and soft deep snow is the norm. All conditions are possible, but we are lucky generally have good to excellent snow conditions in the coast mountains surrounding Squamish BC.

Please click here for the current conditions, snow forecast and Avalanche Danger

Snowmobile season can start as early as November and Go well into May. Please ride with care and caution. Take an Avalanche Course today.

Avalanches

Avalanches are the biggest danger and risk of back country skiing and snowboarding. Please stay up to date on the current danger levels and stay home if it is high. Anytime you go in the backcountry you are putting yourself in risk of an avalanche, please prepare yourself and take an avalanche safety course, make sure your transceiver is on, you know how to use it and has a fresh battery. Carry a shovel and probe at ALL times. Always remember that an avalanche doesn’t care how prepared or knowledgeable you are, they have taken out the best and most experienced people. If you are in the backcountry avalanches are a real risk so Play Smart and Play Safe. Hire a local knowledgeable guide to help lower the risk

Crevasses

Crevaesess are also a serisous risk to backcountry skiing in the coastal mountains around Squamish BC. Our coast mountains are characterized by glacier formations and travel on glaciers is common to get to the higher alpine. Crevasses formed by stresses in the ice as Glaciers flow down the mountain sides, they can generally be found in areas where the slope direction changes. In early season the hazard is higher, and generally decreases as the snowpack thickens. Please carry appropriate rescue equipment when traveling on a glacier zone and ensure that everyone is familiar with crevasse rescue.