Avalanche Canada issues special warning for K-Country, Waterton, southeastern B.C.
Recent snowfall doubled depth of snowpack in many areas
Avalanche Canada issued a special avalanche warning Thursday, saying recent heavy snowfall in the mountains has increased the risk of backcountry users triggering slides.
"In many areas, a significant recent storm has doubled the depth of the current snowpack," Avalanche Canada said in a press release.
The warning is in effect from Friday to Monday in these areas:
- Kananaskis Country.
- Waterton Lakes National Park.
- Lizard Range west of Fernie.
- Flathead ranges southeast of Fernie.
- Southern part of the Purcells region.
- Eastern part of the Kootenay Boundary region.
Environment Canada is also warning people about conditions in the mountain parks.
The agency issued a snowfall warning for the Kananaskis-Canmore area, and winter storm alerts for southeastern B.C. — predicting 15 to 20 centimetres of snow — in much of the area.
Recreational backcountry users with little or no avalanche training or experience are advised to avoid avalanche-prone terrain, or to stay in areas where the risk has been professionally managed.
And experienced backcountry users are urged to keep to simple terrain with low angles and with no large steep slopes or cornices above.
Backcountry users should check conditions on the Avalanche Canada site before heading out and be sure to have avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels, the agency says.
