The mountains around Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, recently benefitted from significant snowfall.
Now, it's getting warm, leading to rapidly increasing avalanche risk throughout the region.
Avalanche Canada issued an update yesterday about the "significant warming."
As of this morning, Whistler Blackcomb's forecast zone had "high" avalanche danger, meaning "very large avalanches will occur over the next few days."
Avalanche Canada's snowpack summary of the zone noted that warming temperatures will melt snow surfaces on nearly all terrain, excluding very high north-facing slopes.
The summary noted that a weak layer buried 60 to 100 inches deep remains sensitive to human and natural triggers. When this layer avalanches—which it likely will—the slides will be quite deep.
Avalanche Canada anticipates "very many" large slab avalanches alongside wet loose avalanches and cornice failures.
North of Pemberton, British Columbia, the avalanche danger has risen to "extreme." That's the highest risk level avalanche forecasters issue.
In short, it's shaping up to be an incredibly dangerous day. Avalanche Canada probably said it best in its forecast: "Avoid avalanche terrain!!!"
There is a silver lining, though. While the backcountry is a no-go, resort skiing over the next few days should deliver prime spring skiing conditions, with slushy conditions on tap.
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