Avalanche Canada, Parks Canada, Alberta Parks, and the Province of British Columbia have issued a special avalanche warning across most forecast regions in BC and Alberta.
The warning was put in place due to rising temperatures and an unstable snowpack and will be in place until Monday, March 3.
“A cohesive slab of snow 30 to 100 centimetres thick sits over a variety of prominent weak layers in the upper snowpack that formed during dry periods in January and February,” said Avalanche Canada.
“This has created a reactive avalanche problem leading to serious incidents and close calls.”
Avalanche Canada says natural avalanche activity has slowed, but human-caused avalanches remain likely.
“We’ve been tracking these weak layers closely over this past month,” said Avalanche Canada Avalanche Forecaster Zoe Ryan.
“Now that the snow on top of them has consolidated, it’s a recipe for dangerous avalanches. These highly problematic layers remain primed for human triggering.”
Avalanche Canada is urging people to be extremely cautious when recreating backcountry areas.
“We know backcountry users are eager to enjoy the snow but this is a tricky avalanche problem,” said Ryan.
“The snowpack is going to take time to strengthen. Good travel habits and selecting conservative terrain will be critical because getting caught in one of these avalanches could be deadly.”
Avalanche Canada has a few tips to stay safe in treacherous terrain:
- Sticking to lower-angle slopes (less than 30 degrees).
- Choosing terrain that minimizes the consequences of an avalanche.
- Travelling one at a time when exposed to avalanche terrain.
- Avoiding sun-exposed slopes during warm and/or sunny conditions.
“Avalanche conditions across B.C. are especially dangerous, and I strongly urge people to stay alert and be extra careful,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
“The weather is starting to warm, and that will bring more people to the mountains. Avalanches can have devastating consequences and, tragically, have claimed the lives of two people in B.C. this year. I urge everyone to check the avalanche forecast before heading out, make cautious decisions, and consider delaying their trip to the mountains until conditions are safer.”
Backcountry users are urged to carry essential gear such as a transceiver, probe, shovel and the knowledge of how to use them.
You can check the avalanche forecast here.
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