National

Avalanche warning for slopes on B.C.'s South Coast

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Jan, 2021 08:17 PM

Avalanche Canada has issued a special warning for recreational users out in mountainous terrain for the British Columbia South Coast region.

The forecaster says the snowpack in the area is highly unusual, with a buried weak layer not normally found in the warmer climate.

The warning says cold weather over the past month has created an active and dangerous weakness in the snowpack, especially on the North Shore mountains, which are easily accessible from Metro Vancouver.

❗️ We've issued a Special Public Avalanche Warning for the South Coast region, effective immediately and throughout the weekend. The snowpack in these regions is highly unusual for this area, with a widespread weak layer that is relatively easy to trigger.https://t.co/2roJmytOnU pic.twitter.com/0Oq9kTXbuB
— Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) January 28, 2021

Avalanche Canada forecaster Kate Devine says in a statement the weak layer would be relatively easy for a person to trigger.

The warning takes effect immediately and will last into the weekend, when Avalanche Canada will reassess the danger.

Devine says there have already been a number of close calls and snowfall predicted for the weekend will bury the layer even deeper, increasing the risk.

"This added snow load will increase the depth and size of the avalanche, which could be deadly for anyone who is caught."

The agency says backcountry users should also check their local avalanche forecasts and anyone heading into the area needs essential rescue gear, including a transceiver, probe and shovel.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Trudeau acknowledges racial unrest in U.S.; 'We also have work to do in Canada'

America's anger, frustration and discord boiled over in Minnesota's Twin Cities on Friday at a remarkable moment in the history of the United States, sparked by the collision of racial injustice, freedom of expression and the worst public health crisis of the last 100 years.

Trudeau acknowledges racial unrest in U.S.; 'We also have work to do in Canada'

Another $650M in COVID-19 aid bound for Indigenous communities, Miller says

The federal government is planning to spend $650 million more to help Indigenous communities cope with the pandemic, after months of First Nations, Inuit and Metis leaders saying the previous amount was inadequate.

Another $650M in COVID-19 aid bound for Indigenous communities, Miller says

Large cruise ships barred from Canadian waters until end of October: Garneau

The cruise-ship season in Canada is all but sunk as Ottawa extends its ban on large ships in Canadian waters until the end of October in an attempt to contain COVID-19.

Large cruise ships barred from Canadian waters until end of October: Garneau

N.S. police received warnings in 2011 about man who would become mass killer

A newly released document reveals that in May 2011, police were told the Nova Scotia man who would later kill 22 people in a shooting rampage wanted to "kill a cop" and was feeling mentally unstable.

N.S. police received warnings in 2011 about man who would become mass killer

Canada exploring ways to reunite families divided by COVID-19 border closure

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is exploring ways to reunite family members divided by the temporary travel restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border.

Canada exploring ways to reunite families divided by COVID-19 border closure

Hospice's refusal to provide assisted death causes 'anxiety,' says B.C. mayor

A hospice that has a long history of helping people near death but denies them medical assistance in dying is drawing criticism from the city's mayor in a clash of ideologies that has split its board and raised questions about its future.