Prince George, B.C.- Avalanche Canada is advising the threat of avalanche remains high throughout BC as warm weather hits the province over the next few days.“We’re expecting this weather to have a big impact on the snowpack,” says Warning Service Manager Karl Klassen. “Given that many slopes have yet to see a full-blown warm up we are predicting a widespread and varied array of avalanche problems this week including cornice failures, surface-layer avalanches, and failure on deeper persistent weak layers. While this is not atypical weather for this time of year, clear-sky days often lead to underestimating hazard and failing to manage risk appropriately.”

When the morning sun strikes alpine slopes and cornices, backcountry users should move onto terrain that’s safe from avalanches that start high above and run well into lower elevations. As daytime temperatures rise and the upper layers of the snowpack become moist or wet, recreationists are advised to avoid avalanche terrain completely. “Starting trips in the morning when it’s still cold and before the sun rises, with the goal of being out of avalanche terrain by early afternoon at the latest, is a good risk management strategy,” says Klassen.

Avalanche Canada had issued a warning late last week heading into the long weekend. The extension of the warning will be reassessed on Friday.