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Special Avalanche Warning for Southern Sections of British Columbia and Alberta
Exceptionally weak snowpack causes widespread avalanche danger January 1, 2009, Revelstoke BC: The Canadian Avalanche Centre is issuing a special avalanche warning for the period of Friday, January 2 through to Monday, January 5, 2009.
This warning affects the South Coast mountains from the US border to north of Pemberton. In the interior, the warning applies to the Columbia Mountains from Prince George south to the US border, the Kootenay Boundary region, and the Southern Rockies of BC and Alberta.
The snowpack across much of BC and Alberta is unusually weak and the CAC has received many reports of avalanches triggered by recreational activity over the past 24 hours. As new snow accumulates on top of this fragile base, more avalanches are certain.
This period of elevated danger is coinciding with a holiday weekend that may see clearing skies between storms in many areas of BC and Alberta. “This brings a perfect recipe for avalanche incidents” says John Kelly, Operations Manager at the Canadian Avalanche Centre. “We expect that many people will be heading to the backcountry during these last days of the Christmas holidays, and people are often bolder in good weather. But these conditions demand a significant safety margin, and we are urging everyone to be extremely cautious in avalanche terrain.”
Adding more complexity to the situation, an intense Pacific storm is forecast to hit the South Coast by Sunday bringing rain and more snow. Backcountry users are advised to stay well clear of avalanche terrain with the onset of any significant precipitation.
The CAC recommends all amateur backcountry users to stick to low angle terrain, avoid obvious avalanche paths and closely follow the advice included in the avalanche bulletins for the duration of this warning period. Bulletins are available at Welcome to avalanche.ca
<http://www.avalanche.ca> or by phoning 1 800 667 1105.
--30--
For more information
CAC Public Avalanche Forecasting Office
250.837.2141 (230)
Exceptionally weak snowpack causes widespread avalanche danger January 1, 2009, Revelstoke BC: The Canadian Avalanche Centre is issuing a special avalanche warning for the period of Friday, January 2 through to Monday, January 5, 2009.
This warning affects the South Coast mountains from the US border to north of Pemberton. In the interior, the warning applies to the Columbia Mountains from Prince George south to the US border, the Kootenay Boundary region, and the Southern Rockies of BC and Alberta.
The snowpack across much of BC and Alberta is unusually weak and the CAC has received many reports of avalanches triggered by recreational activity over the past 24 hours. As new snow accumulates on top of this fragile base, more avalanches are certain.
This period of elevated danger is coinciding with a holiday weekend that may see clearing skies between storms in many areas of BC and Alberta. “This brings a perfect recipe for avalanche incidents” says John Kelly, Operations Manager at the Canadian Avalanche Centre. “We expect that many people will be heading to the backcountry during these last days of the Christmas holidays, and people are often bolder in good weather. But these conditions demand a significant safety margin, and we are urging everyone to be extremely cautious in avalanche terrain.”
Adding more complexity to the situation, an intense Pacific storm is forecast to hit the South Coast by Sunday bringing rain and more snow. Backcountry users are advised to stay well clear of avalanche terrain with the onset of any significant precipitation.
The CAC recommends all amateur backcountry users to stick to low angle terrain, avoid obvious avalanche paths and closely follow the advice included in the avalanche bulletins for the duration of this warning period. Bulletins are available at Welcome to avalanche.ca
<http://www.avalanche.ca> or by phoning 1 800 667 1105.
--30--
For more information
CAC Public Avalanche Forecasting Office
250.837.2141 (230)
