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.
A Special Public Avalanche Warning is in effect for most forecast regions across BC and Alberta until March 3. A cohesive slab of snow 30 - 100 cm thick is sitting over weak layers in the snowpack and causing dangerous avalanche conditions. Learn more at https://t.co/164ZogRPt9 pic.twitter.com/NM4TJfIPxv
— Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) February 27, 2025
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.
