Extreme avalanche risk west of Calgary, highs close to 20 C Thursday

Warm weather has cleared out most of the snow. Jodi Hughes has a look at the five-day forecast from the Sky Watch Weather Centre.

Calgary set a new record high temperature Wednesday, and there will likely be more areas making history Thursday with peak highs forecast to hover around 20 C.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the following locations set new daily highs for March 18:

Brooks area: 19.2 C

• Former record high was 19 C, set in 2026.
• Records in this area have been kept since 1912.

Calgary area: 18.5 C

• Former record high was 18.3 C, set in 1928.
• Records in this area have been kept since 1881.

Drumheller area: 19.8 C

• Former record high was 18.7 C, set in 2021.
• Records in this area have been kept since 1923.

Rocky Mountain House area: 16.9 C

• Former record high was 15.8 C, set in 2019.
• Records in this area have been kept since 1915.

Sundre area: 16.3 C

• Former record high was 15.9 C, set in 2021.
• Records in this area have been kept since 1993.

Calgary is expecting a high of 17 C Thursday.

The record high for Calgary on March 19 was 18.9 C (set in 1928).

A broad ridge of high pressure remains parked over western Canada with an atmospheric river still landing on the southern coast.

Yellow-level rainfall warnings remain for portions of southwestern B.C. as this persistent heavy rain event continues.

Portions of the central coast are expecting total accumulations of 300 millimetres.

In their advisory for Thursday ECCC explained, “Total rainfall amounts from now to Friday: 100 to 120 mm with higher amounts possible near the mountains.”

More moisture is tracking through southern B.C. and over the Rockies, contributing to enhanced avalanche risk, and that rain falling over snow leads to rapid mountain snowmelt.

The risk of slides and pooling water has prompted officials to advise people to avoid the backcountry in many areas.

Most of the southern portion of B.C. has been evaluated as having a high avalanche risk rating by Avalanche Canada, with portions of Banff National Park rated as an extreme risk.

This has prompted highway closures from Drive BC as crews work to mitigate and manage the situation.

Strong westerly winds will be a part of the weather story again on Thursday.

Yellow-level wind warnings have been issued by the national weather agency.

“Westerly winds gusting up to or above 100 km/h in some locations are expected to continue until tonight. The strongest winds, gusting up to 115 km/h, will be early this morning,” it said.

High-profile vehicles will notice the wind even more, but ECCC notes overall driving conditions will be negatively impacted by the wind.

Both the daytime highs and overnight lows will remain above seasonal for the next couple of days before another weather pattern shift introduces colder air into the region.

Snow is expected in northern Alberta by Friday, with light and scattered flurries possible in Calgary Saturday.