A Special Public Avalanche Warning is in effect for British Columbia’s South Coast region, which includes Squamish, now through this weekend, Avalanche Canada announced today [Jan. 28]. . . .
– Kananaskis Country
The snowpack is currently in a precarious state throughout these regions due to the presence of a critical weak layer 60–100 cm below the snow surface. The storms that blew through Western Canada over the past week added sufficient snow above the weak layer to bring the snowpack to a tipping point where large avalanches can be easily triggered by people on snowshoes, skis, or snowmobile.
“With indoor gatherings restricted by the pandemic, we recognize many of us will want to spend time outdoors in our beautiful backcountry over the holidays,” explained James Floyer, forecast program supervisor for Avalanche Canada. “People must be aware that even though the weather has settled, dangerous avalanche conditions remain throughout much of western Canada. There is a serious potential for large, human-triggered avalanches at this time.”
Author of the article: Newsroom Staff
Publishing date: Dec 23, 2020 • December 23, 2020 • 1 minute read • FILE - The mountains march south into British Columbia at Kananaskis Lakes west of Calgary on Monday, April 22, 2019. Avalanche Canada has issued an avalanche warning for many parts of Kananaskis Country and the mountain parks. Photo by Mike Drew /Postmedia
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After a record-setting snowfall in parts of southern Alberta, Avalanche Canada is warning the public about an increased risk of avalanches in the mountains.
A special public avalanche warning has been issued for all recreational users of backcountry and front country avalanche terrain. The warning is slated to last until Dec. 27.
The snowpack is currently in a precarious state throughout these regions due to the presence of a critical weak layer 60–100 cm below the snow surface. The storms that blew through western Canada over the past week added sufficient snow above the weak layer to bring the snowpack to a tipping point where large avalanches can be easily triggered by people on snowshoes, skis, or snowmobile.
“With indoor gatherings restricted by the pandemic, we recognize many of us will want to spend time outdoors in our beautiful backcountry over the holidays,” explains James Floyer, forecast program supervisor for Avalanche Canada. “People must be aware that even though the weather has settled, dangerous avalanche conditions remain throughout much of western Canada. There is a serious potential for large, human-triggered avalanches at this time.”