Warm, sunny weather expected in B.C. ahead of spring break

Spring breakers can look forward to a sunny weekend throughout B.C., with meteorologists forecasting above-average temperatures in the days ahead andwarning of increased avalanche risk.

Beginning Friday, Environment Canada Meteorologist Lisa Erven says a high pressure ridge will increase daytime temperatures in many parts of the province.

She says Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley can expect unseasonal temperatures in the high teens to even low twenties over the weekend and into early next week, with some communities like Abbotsford, Whistler and Pemberton, she says likely to break daily temperature records.

Erven adds Vancouver Island and the Interior can expect temperatures in the mid to high teens, and that warmth will travel up with similar temperatures in northern B.C.

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While Erven says the weekend is expected to be significantly warmer than usual for this time of year, B.C. has seen hotter temperatures in March in previous years.

"It doesn't look like we'll break any all-time March temperature records, but the forecasted temperatures are anywhere from about five to 12 degrees above normal," she said.

She adds the warmth is expected to last until early or mid-next week, with cooler "more winter-like weather" coming in the weeks ahead.

Avalanche risk

Simon Horton with Avalanche Canada says the sudden warmth often leads to a "rapid rise in avalanche danger."

"This [weekend] in particular is quite concerning because most of the mountains of Western Canada have a very weak snowpack right now," he said, noting there have been several avalanche incidents already this month.

He says forecasters are worried of "large avalanches happening naturally" due to the warmth this weekend.

"Right now, the avalanches are so large that your odds of surviving one, if caught, are quite diminished."

He warns spring breakers heading out into the backcountry mountains or out of bounds at ski resorts that their safety is their own responsibility.

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Horton advises people recreating in the snow to get avalanche training, take safety equipment and check the weather and avalanche forecast beforehand.

"Your best chance of survival is if you're with a group who has rescue equipment and practice using it," he said.

Drought concerns

At a news conference last week, Dave Campbell with the River Forecast Centre cited snowpack levels had increased throughout the province in March following recent snow and precipitation.

However, Campbell noted the numbers, while an improvement from February, were still 34 per cent below the seasonal average.

"We typically have about 80 per cent of the snow that we see for the year is on the ground right now [in March]," Campbell said, adding warmer temperatures ahead could lead to an early start to the snow melt.

He says an early snow melt would initially rejuvenate streams, but could lead to low water levels in the summer.

"If it melts early, it's going to be gone early and its contribution to continued flow in the summer is going to be diminished. That's really going to be the key concern."

Vanessa Anthony, a director of policy at Metro Vancouver, says the region is preparing early in case of an early snow melt.

She says they've closed the dam spill gates earlier than normal to ensure water reservoirs are full.

"What's really important is for everyone to do their part, we really encourage everyone to conserve water," said Anthony, adding outdoor water usage often jumps up in the summer months.

"We'll be promoting our lawn watering restrictions that start May 1 very widely to encourage people to do their part."