Western Canada avalanche warning in place
Posted Apr 27, 2023 1:17 pm.
Avalanche Canada is issuing a Special Public Avalanche Warning (SPAW) for Kananaskis Country, B.C.’s backcountry, and those in western Canada’s “mountainous regions.”
It says a “dramatic increase in temperatures” will destabilize the snowpack, leading to “dangerous, destructive avalanches.”
“Meaning, we could have avalanches releasing up to four meters of thickness and within the snowpack coming down all at once. They can propagate very far,” Mike Conlan, a senior avalanche forecaster with Avalanche Canada, told CityNews.
“So we could have avalanches that could travel all the way down to the valley bottom and even in areas where there’s snow-free valleys right now.”
The warning is being applied immediately and is expected to last until May 1.
A map of western Canada that includes a Special Public Avalanche Warning issued by Avalanche Canada on Thursday, April 27, 2023 (Courtesy Avalanche Canada)
The agency says dangerous avalanche conditions exist for “all mountainous regions in western Canada,” with the hazard increasing each day there is warm air.
In addition, regions with “persistent or deep persistent” avalanche problems will be “problematic,” including avalanches “potentially involving the full depth of the snowpack.”
Avalanche Canada also says the warming can initiate “large” and “destructive” cornice falls.
“Cornices can be destructive by themselves but also act as a trigger for destructive deep persistent avalanches,” the agency said.
As a result, the agency is warning all backcountry users, which include hikers and scrambled and anyone “recreating in avalanche terrain,” are advised to leave a large margin for error during this period.
“Stick to simple, low-angle terrain, and avoid all overhead avalanche hazards,” the agency said.
Backcountry users can find more information on the avalanche forecast online.
In addition, Avalanche Canada says those part of a backcountry party needs the essential rescue gear-transceiver, probe, and shovel-and the training to use it.
-With files from Cole Schisler
