Sunday, July 20, 2025
ADVT 
National

Special avalanche warning issued in B.C., Alberta as 'dangerous' conditions develop

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Feb, 2025 04:35 PM
  • Special avalanche warning issued in B.C., Alberta as 'dangerous' conditions develop

Avalanche Canada has issued a special warning covering large sections of B.C. and western Alberta's backcountry, saying triggered slides could be "dangerous and destructive." 

The forecaster says drought in January and February created "prominent weak layers" in the snowpack that are now buried under up to 100 centimetres of new snow.

The warning says the new snow has formed a consolidated slab, creating dangerous avalanche conditions that are hard to predict.

The warning applies to the end of Monday and backcountry users are urged to choose conservative terrain and avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees in clearings and move one at a time through areas with "overhead hazard."

Avalanche Canada also says people should avoid sun-exposed slopes, especially when it's sunny and warm, nothing that problems of this nature can be difficult to predict and there may be limited clues. 

It says everyone in the backcountry needs the essential rescue gear: transceiver, probe and shovel, and the training to use it.

"After a season of relatively stable avalanche conditions, we are entering a period of dramatic change and it is important to adapt mindsets to reflect this," the warning says.

MORE National ARTICLES

Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer retiring after a decade at the helm

Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer retiring after a decade at the helm
Vancouver Chief Const. Adam Palmer has announced he will retire at the end of April after 37 years with the department, including almost a decade in the top job.  Palmer announced his decision next to Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim at police headquarters, saying the decision and timing were "100 per cent" on his own terms. 

Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer retiring after a decade at the helm

Backcountry skier killed in avalanche near Golden

Backcountry skier killed in avalanche near Golden
A backcountry skier in B.C. has been killed in an avalanche near the community of Golden. The RCMP says two men were reported unaccounted for at 10 p.m. Monday night, and had not been heard from since 5:30 p.m.

Backcountry skier killed in avalanche near Golden

With talk of D-Day and war, throne speech portrays B.C. in historic tariff battle

With talk of D-Day and war, throne speech portrays B.C. in historic tariff battle
British Columbia's government has depicted the province on a battle footing against the threat of U.S. tariffs, as it faces its “most consequential time” since the Second World War. The NDP government's agenda, outlined in a throne speech delivered by Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia on Tuesday, evoked wartime imagery with references to Winston Churchill, D-Day and the fight against Nazism.

With talk of D-Day and war, throne speech portrays B.C. in historic tariff battle

Pounding rain, damaging winds battering parts of B.C. through Wednesday

Pounding rain, damaging winds battering parts of B.C. through Wednesday
Heavy rain and strong winds are pummeling parts of British Columbia.  Environment Canada has issued warnings for much of Vancouver Island, Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast and eastern and northern sections of Metro Vancouver. 

Pounding rain, damaging winds battering parts of B.C. through Wednesday

Fire-ravaged Lytton getting 'community hub' with museum, pool, market space

Fire-ravaged Lytton getting 'community hub' with museum, pool, market space
The federal government is promising more than $25 million to help build a new "community hub" in the Village of Lytton years after much of the B.C. town was wiped out by fire. A statement from the Ministry of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities says the new building is expected to include a community-sized pool and fire reservoir, a museum, a market space, multi-purpose rooms and accessible washrooms.

Fire-ravaged Lytton getting 'community hub' with museum, pool, market space

Investigation into plane crash at Pearson airport continues as crews handle wreckage

Investigation into plane crash at Pearson airport continues as crews handle wreckage
Two of Pearson's five runways, including the "busiest" in Canada, remain closed, said the airport's duty manager Jake Keating. The airport had capped departures throughout the day and a similar step had been taken to manage arrivals. 

Investigation into plane crash at Pearson airport continues as crews handle wreckage