Special avalanche warning persists as B.C. mountains see 'significant warm up'
The risk of avalanches this weekend in the alpine areas of B.C.’s South Coast mountains is considerable, and Avalanche Canada’s special warning for multiple regions of B.C. remains in place.
Earlier this week, the agency issued the warning for multiple Southern Interior regions as well as the Sea-to-Sky and South Coast Inland regions, from Squamish to Pemberton.
“There is a significant warm up occurring,” said Karl Klassen, the warning service manager for Avalanche Canada.
“The problem is that we’re not seeing a lot of avalanches, but the ones we’re seeing are unexpected and large.”
On Friday, the hazard level for the South Coast mountains, which includes Metro Vancouver’s mountains, increased.
For both Saturday and Sunday in alpine areas – the upper third of the mountains – the hazard level is 3 out of 5, also known as “considerable.” This, says Klassen, is up from a hazard level of 2 earlier in the week.
A hazard level of 3 means that natural avalanches are possible, and human-triggered avalanches are likely.
“There is a lot of uncertainty as to how the snowpack is going to react to the sustained heat and sun,” reads the Avalanche Canada forecast for the South Coast.
“Loose, wet avalanches and cornice failures are expected to become more likely each day.”
Klassen says to approach any backcountry areas with caution, and to only go out if you’re trained and practiced on avalanche safety.
“I'd be very, very cautious wherever the temperatures are rising, especially if they're rising rapidly and getting warm. And I'd also be very, very cautious on the slopes that are getting direct sun and solar radiation,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.