Share to Dec 23, 2020 10:35 AM Pete McIntyre
A special public avalanche warning has been issued this week for several regions within British Columbia.
Avalanche Canada issued the warning today (Dec. 23) for recreational users of backcountry and frontcountry avalanche terrain. The notice will stay in effect until Sunday, Dec. 27.
Senior Public Avalanche Forecaster Mark Bender says the extra snow and wind that blew through southern B.C. this week has raised the avalanche danger rating. The snowpack has been brought to a tipping point where large avalanches can be easily triggered by people on snowshoes, skis, or snowmobiles.
“Even if it’s good weather and you’re heading out there, ensure that you select conservative terrain because there’s a few buried weak layers in the snowpack that recently caused avalanche activity,” says Bender. “And I can foresee that continuing in the next few days here, even with good weather in the forecast.”
Avalanche warning issued for much of B.C.
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A Special Public Avalanche Warning has been issued throughout the mountains of B.C. and into Alberta for recreational backcountry and frontcountry users from Wednesday through the holiday weekend.
The warning was issued by Avalanche Canada in partnership with Parks Canada and Alberta’s Kananaskis Country.
Avalanche Canada said the snowpack is in a precarious state in a number of areas because of a critical weak layer 60 to 100 centimeters below the surface of the snow.
The warning is in place for a number of areas until December 27th.
PG, Northern Rockies region included in public warning issued by Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche Canada is issuing a Special Public Warning for recreational users of backcountry and from country avalanche terrain, which will be in effect until Sunday (December 27th).
The warning is widespread and applies to the following forecast regions:
– Kootenay-Boundary
Graphic supplied by Avalanche Canada
The snowpack is currently in a precarious state throughout these regions due to the presence of a weak layer of 60–100 cm below the snow surface.
Several storms 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.
Avalanche Canada issues warning for most eastern B C mountain ranges theglobeandmail.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theglobeandmail.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Warnings and watches issued for much of southern Alberta, with up to 50 cm of snow expected
On Monday evening in Calgary, the snow was already beginning to snarl traffic, with 34 non-injury crashes, eight injury crashes and four hit-and-runs between 5 and 9 p.m.
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CBC News ·
Posted: Dec 21, 2020 10:42 AM MT | Last Updated: December 22, 2020
Heavy snow was beginning to cause delays in Calgary on Monday evening, with more than 40 crashes between 5 and 9 p.m. (YYC Transportation/Twitter)