‘Pineapple Express’ storm prompts extreme avalanche warnings in B.C.

If you have any plans this weekend to head up into the mountains of British Columbia this weekend, you'd best put those plans on hold.

The Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) has issued avalanche warnings across the southern half of the province due to the 'Pineapple Express' weather system that is pushing on shore over B.C.'s South Coast. The combination of warm air, heavy rainfall on recent snow and strong winds is resulting in an increased risk of avalanches, both natural and human-triggered, until sometime on Sunday.

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According to CAC bulletins, the extreme risk areas are Sea-to-Sky, South Columbia, North Columbia Monashees & Selkirks, and the North Columbia Cariboos, with large or very large avalanches are certain in those regions.

High risk areas include the Whistler Backcountry, South Coast Inland, and Northwest - Coastal, as well as the Kootenay Boundary and Purcells, and the South Rockies, north to Jasper, and the Northwest - Inland areas are under considerable risk.

Anyone traveling or living in mountainous areas should be cautious and keep alert to potentially dangerous conditions.

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Rainfall warnings are still in effect for West Vancouver Island, Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, and the Sunshine Coast. Periods of heavy rain are expected with more intense rainfall rates expected along the west coast of Vancouver Island and in Howe Sound.

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