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Rainfall warning in effect for Whistler

System is expected to bring about 60 mm of rain through Saturday night
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Joel Barde

It is going to be a soggy day and night in Whistler, with an intense low-pressure system set to bring heavy rain through Friday and Saturday night.

The system prompted Environment Canada to issue a rainfall warning for an area that covers Metro Vancouver and Whistler that was updated early this morning.

"The warm front associated with this system moved through the area last night bringing rain, at times heavy," it reads.

The agency is predicting rainfall amounts in the 60 millimetres range for Whistler.

The Weather Network is predicting 25 to 30 mm of rain this afternoon, and another 35 to 45 mm in total overnight.

The temperature is forecast to rise to 5 C and remain above zero through the night.

Meteorologist David Jones said that Whistler Blackcomb can also expect heavy winds—of up to 150 km/h—in the high alpine.

"The moment you get down lower the terrain slows the wind down quite a bit," said Jones, adding that he anticipates winds to negligible in the Village.

Whistler Blackcomb received 18 centimetres of snow overnight at Pig Alley, and was predicting between 25 to 35 cm of daytime snow at 11:30 a.m.

But Jones said that such predictions are difficult given the conditions, which will be mild.

"The freezing level is going to move to about 2,000 meters," he said. "That means the snowline is going to be somewhere at 1,800 meters roughly... at the warmest point of the day."

Jones added that the weekend forecast could spell problems for skiers and boarders, saying that plummeting temperatures could result in "bullet proof" conditions.

Temperatures will "plummet" through Saturday, reaching -15 C by midnight Saturday, he said.

"Unless we get some good flurries on top, then we're going to have a really hard layer that's going be a problem for the rest of the season in terms of avalanches," said Jones, clarifying that avalanches is not his area of expertise.

Meanwhile in Pemberton, the Village of Pemberton is preparing for any possible flood events related to the storm.

"A sandbag station has been set up at municipal hall, 7400 Prospect St. Residents are asked to bring their own shovels," wrote VOP staff in a Facebook post.

"Please continue to check the Village's Facebook page and website for updates."

Recently retired from Environment Canada, David Jones produces a rapid-fire "weather story" focused on Whistler Blackcomb conditions every weekday,

You can view Jones' forecast for today here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH_HILp8NfU.