Thursday, May 7, 2026
ADVT 
National

Avalanche closes stretch of Highway 99 north of Pemberton, B.C., risk remains high

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Mar, 2025 01:17 PM
  • Avalanche closes stretch of Highway 99 north of Pemberton, B.C., risk remains high

A stretch of highway north of Pemberton, B.C., is closed as crews work to clear avalanche debris from the route, while Avalanche Canada says the risk remains high in many popular backcountry areas throughout British Columbia.

A statement from the Transportation Ministry says a "partial avalanche" occurred along Highway 99, and given the high riskfor additional slides, provincial crews performed a heli-bombing operation to trigger the release of the remaining snow.

With warmer temperatures and precipitation in the forecast, the province says there is a risk of further avalanche activity and the route will remain closed overnight.

It says the site will be reassessed Thursday morning to determine whether it is safe to reopen the route, which is also known as Duffey Lake Road.

Avalanche Canada mapping shows the danger is ranked at level four out of five in the mountains surrounding Pembertonand Whistler, as well as the Fraser Valley.

The danger is also set at "high" throughout southeastern B.C., near the Alberta boundary, while it's ranked at level three in mountains on Metro Vancouver's North Shore, the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island, and a large swath of the northwest.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2025.

MORE National ARTICLES

Emissions in Canada fell last year, though still far off Paris targets

Emissions in Canada fell last year, though still far off Paris targets
For the first time since the pandemic, Canada had a year-over-year decline in its greenhouse gas emissions — though it is still a long way off its 2030 target. A preliminary emissions report Thursday from the federal government shows greenhouse gases emitted in 2023 fell by six million tonnes compared to 2022, the equivalent to what about 1.4 million passenger vehicles emit over the course of a year.

Emissions in Canada fell last year, though still far off Paris targets

Forfeited Hells Angels clubhouse in Kelowna sold to the city

Forfeited Hells Angels clubhouse in Kelowna sold to the city
A former Hells Angels clubhouse that was seized by the British Columbia government in 2023 after years of fighting in court has been sold to the City of Kelowna.  A statement from Public Safety Minister Garry Begg says the sale of the home in Kelowna includes a "right of entry," which means the province's civil forfeiture office can take the property back if it is ever acquired and used for organized crime in the future.

Forfeited Hells Angels clubhouse in Kelowna sold to the city

Dozens get sick with 'norovirus-like' illness after eating raw B.C. oysters

Dozens get sick with 'norovirus-like' illness after eating raw B.C. oysters
Health officials in British Columbia say at least 64 people have become sick after eating raw oysters from restaurants and retail locations. A statement from the BC Centre for Disease Control and the provincial health authority says the "norovirus-like" gastrointestinal illnesses have been reported since Nov. 1 in the Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health and Island Health regions. 

Dozens get sick with 'norovirus-like' illness after eating raw B.C. oysters

Vancouver Police Union criticizes assault case's handling after officer's suicide

Vancouver Police Union criticizes assault case's handling after officer's suicide
The president of the Vancouver Police Union has criticized the handling of a sexual assault case that ended in the suicide of a Central Saanich Police officer. Ralph Kaisers says in a letter to members that was obtained by The Canadian Press that the "tragic loss" of the officer came after public statements that risked "undermining the presumption of innocence."

Vancouver Police Union criticizes assault case's handling after officer's suicide

Attempted murder charges for woman who tried to drive car with kids into B.C. river

Attempted murder charges for woman who tried to drive car with kids into B.C. river
Police in Delta say a woman has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to drive a car carrying two young children into the Fraser River last month.  Delta police say officers had responded to an incident on Nov. 29 on River Road where they found a car stuck on the foreshore of the river. 

Attempted murder charges for woman who tried to drive car with kids into B.C. river

Latest B.C. storm brings 140 km/h gusts to Vancouver Island amid wind, snow warnings

Latest B.C. storm brings 140 km/h gusts to Vancouver Island amid wind, snow warnings
Winds approaching 140 km/h have been hitting Vancouver Island weather stations after Environment Canada issued the latest in a series of wind warnings for the B.C. coast. It says the warnings cover exposed coastal sections of the island's north and B.C.'s central coast, with a Pacific frontal system approaching.

Latest B.C. storm brings 140 km/h gusts to Vancouver Island amid wind, snow warnings