High avalanche risk in Alberta, B.C. prompts warnings
theweathernetwork.com
Saturday, January 5, 2019, 1:35 PM - A combination of heavy snowfall, mild temperatures, and strong winds have prompted Parks Canada to announce an extreme avalanche risk in Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, and Jasper national parks.
Alberta and British Columbia have seen numerous announcements for extreme avalanche risk in recent weeks and extensive warnings have been put in place to inform those that are travelling through the mountains.
On January 3 an avalanche near Pemberton, British Columbia resulted in the death of a 42 year old skier that was skiing in a group and was wearing a location monitor.
Extreme danger warnings indicate that individuals should avoid all avalanche terrain because of the certainty that natural and human-triggered avalanches will occur.
Avalanche Canada has released a statement for Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks, saying "A heavy snow fall (up to 70 cm) has overloaded a weak snowpack. Stay clear of avalanche terrain. Slopes that have not avalanched are ripe for human triggering."
Additional advice from Avalanche Canada states that individuals should be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches because weak layers are deeply buried, and all avalanche terrain should be avoided.
Over the weekend 20-70 cm of snow is expected to accumulate in addition to strong winds on Sunday, which will add to the conditions for an avalanche to occur.
Regions with particularly high possibilities of slides include: B.C. south coast, Vancouver Island mountains, east-central and southeastern B.C., southwestern Alberta.
Snow is also coming to those that are staying away from the slopes, as the snow levels will be lower on Sunday below 500m in some cases at valley bottom through the Interior.
