A high risk of avalanches across B.C. prompted warnings to backcountry enthusiasts and closed major highways Wednesday.
The Canadian Avalanche Centre is rating the risk of a slide as high throughout the North Shore mountains, Whistler and the surrounding Sea-to-Sky region, the South Coast inland area and sections of the Northwest as well as from the North Columbia area down through the Kootenays.
Public avalanche forecaster Peter Marshall told CTV News that a recent dump of heavy snow after a dry early December means dangerous conditions on slopes throughout the province.
"It's a perfect recipe for avalanches," he said. "You really want to be careful anywhere you go in this period."
He added that skiers and snowboarders should stay on marked trails to avoid triggering a slide. To learn about avalanche risks throughout B.C., visit avalanche.ca.
The danger of a slide closed the Trans Canada for 147.8 kilometres in both directions from Revelstoke to Golden, but the highway was scheduled to reopen at 4 p.m. About 27 kilometres of Highway 3 was closed through the Kootenay Pass and expected to reopen by 2 p.m., while Highway 23 was closed for a time in the morning.
For more information about road closures throughout the province, visit drivebc.ca.
