Western Canada alpine regions under special avalanche warning as temperatures rise

According to Avalanche Canada, the sudden shift from cool, winter-like conditions in western Canada's alpine regions will create dangerous avalanche conditions.

A dramatic increase in temperatures in western Canada has prompted an avalanche warning for mountainous regions.

The sudden shift from cool, winter-like conditions will create dangerous avalanche conditions, according to Avalanche Canada.

“Temperatures are going to be 5 to 10 degrees above average Thursday through Saturday across most of B.C.,” said Global BC Meteorologist Kristi Gordon.

“We will see a brief drop in daytime highs Sunday and Monday before they climb once again. Overall conditions are expected to remain above seasonal throughout the next couple of weeks.”

“The effect of the warm temperatures on the existing snowpack structure means that these avalanches will likely be very large and may run to valley bottoms,” Avalanche Canada said in the warning.

“Dangerous avalanche conditions exist for all mountainous regions in western Canada and the hazard increases with each day of warm air.”

All backcountry enjoyers, including hikers, skiers and snowmobilers, are advised to leave a “wide margin for error” during the warning and should stick to simple, low-angle terrain and avoid all overhead hazards.

Regions with persistent or deep persistent slab avalanche problems are heightened areas of concern, as avalanches could involve the full depth of the snowpack.