Snow by tommorow night

Patchy low level cloud will persist tonight as a weak ridge of high pressure moves slowly east away from the South Coast Mountains. However as a strong Pacific frontal system approaches clouds will thicken considerably Saturday with precipitation moving into the district beginning Saturday evening.

Tonight..Clear this evening. Cloudy periods overnight.
Alpine low minus 11.
Freezing level valley bottom.
Mountain top winds southeast 20 to 40 km/h.

Saturday..Cloudy with morning sunny periods.
Alpine high minus 3.
Freezing level rising to 1000 metres.
Mountain top winds southeast 20 to 30 km/h.

Sunday..Snow heavy at times.
Snowfall accumulations 15 to 25 cm.
Freezing level 1000 metres rising to 1500 metres.

Monday..Snow heavy at times.
Snowfall accumulations 15 to 25 cm.
Freezing level 1600 metres lowering to 1000 metres.

Tuesday..Periods of snow.
Snowfall accumulations 10 to 15 cm.
Freezing level near 1000 metres.

5 Day Trend..A parade of pacific frontal systems will affect the coast mountains from Sunday to Tuesday. The first system will bring temperatures still cold enough to support snow initially especially over the inland valleys and higher elevations. However, a strong southerly flow will arrive Sunday bringing rising freezing levels and potentially heavy precipitation. Rain is expected Sunday except in the high alpine. Indications suggest a gradual cooling trend will set in Monday and Tuesday as the next Pacific weather system moves in with more precipitation likely both days. There is some uncertainty as to how fast the cooling trend will be..but latest indications suggest that precipitation will turn over to snow in all areas by the middle of the work week.