Latest news with #AvalancheCanada
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Avalanche kills 3 in Canada, including 1 American, when group of skiers swept away
Three people were killed when a large avalanche swept away a group of skiers in Canada, officials said. The avalanche struck just before 1 p.m. on Monday when two groups of skiers had just finished skiing and were waiting in a staging area below the tree line of Clute Creek water shed in an alpine area on the east side of Kootenay Lake in the British Columbia backcountry, according to a statement from the Kaslo Royal Canadian Mounted Police. MORE: Toddler found wandering streets alone with soiled diaper leads police back to shocking scene at home 'A transport helicopter was nearing the group when the pilot observed an avalanche and sounded the siren,' officials said. 'One group of skiers was able to run out of harm's way, while the other group of four was swept away into the tree line.' Efforts to recover the men were immediately initiated but when officials located them, they found three of them deceased. They were identified as 'a 44-year-old man from Whistler BC, a 45-year-old man from Idaho USA and the 53-year-old guide from Kaslo BC.' MORE: Cop dies when police car split in 2 by light pole while in pursuit of suspect during chase The fourth man, a 40-year-old from Nelson, British Columbia, was critically injured. Avalanche Canada said the Kootenays have a high danger rating at all elevations and that rising temperatures can create avalanche conditions. Avalanche kills 3 in Canada, including 1 American, when group of skiers swept away originally appeared on
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
B.C. records exceptional, late-April warmth to conclude February
The final day of February provided B.C. with remarkable warmth for the time of year, with temperatures exceeding 17°C in some locations. These temperatures are comparable to late-April averages, and even the first week of May. You can thank a massive ridge of high pressure for the unusually warm values. MARCH 2025 OUTLOOK: As a result of the warmth, however, there is an elevated avalanche risk this weekend for a swath of B.C. A special public avalanche warning is in effect for parts of B.C. and western Alberta's backcountry, warning of dangerous conditions possible between through to Monday, March 3, 2025. A snow slab 30-100 cm thick is sitting on weak snowpack layers, elevating the avalanche risk, Avalanche Canada said on social media. 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 — Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) February 27, 2025 Let's take a look at the notable daytime highs we recorded in B.C. on Friday, Feb. 28. Abbotsford: 16.9°C (8°C above normal). Its warmest February day since 2005 Agassiz: 17°C (8°C above normal) Hope: 16.1°C (7°C above normal) Lytton: 15.5°C (10°C above normal) Merritt: 15.9°C (9°C above normal). Its warmest February day since Feb. 24, 1986 (16.0°C), and within 0.1°C of all-time February high. Pitt Meadows: 17.3°C (7°C above normal) Squamish: 16.7°C (12°C above normal) Victoria: 14.2°C (5°C above normal). It was Victoria's warmest February day since 2015. What caused the warmth was a towering ridge of high pressure that established itself across the province on Friday, and will stick around through Saturday, as well. The ridge is responsible for blocking storms and promoting stable, dry, and warmer conditions. The late-February sun angle is increasing, and the ridge has redirected the jet stream from the southwest, ushering in mild Pacific air. However, a more active pattern is expected to return to the South Coast for the second week of March and continue well into the second half of the month. Temperatures should be cold enough to bring heavy snow to the alpine regions, including ski areas. Backcountry users are advised to use extreme caution while the warning is in effect. Graphic by Cheryl Santa Maria for The Weather Network. Source: Avalanche Canada. Precautions include: Only using slopes that are 30 degrees and situated in clearings, open trees, and alpine terrain. Exercising extreme caution, as instability may be hard to detect. Avoiding sun-exposed slopes. Moving through avalanche terrain one person at a time, only re-grouping in open areas with no overhead hazards. Checking forecasts regularly before heading out. Bringing appropriate equipment, including a transceiver, probe, and shovel, and know how to use them. Header image: File photo via Canva Pro. Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates for B.C.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Canada Issues Urgent Avalanche Warning for Skiers and Snowboarders
Avalanche Canada has issued a Special Public Avalanche Warning (SPAW) that applies to much of British Columbia and warning lasts through the end of March 3, 2025. A few forecast zones in southwest and northwest British Columbia are exempt. The extent of the warning can be viewed layers have formed between 30 centimeters and 100 centimeters deep in the snowpack during recent periods of drought, according to Avalanche Canada. Atop these weak layers, which may consist of crust, faceted snow, or surface hoar, now sits a consolidated slab of snow, creating dangerous avalanche conditions.'Avalanche problems of this nature can be difficult to predict, and there may be limited clues about deeper snowpack instabilities,' the warning reads, noting that slides triggered on the existing weak layers will likely be to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates. The warning published on Avalanche Canada's website included four safety tips for skiers, snowboarders, and other backcountry users:-'Choose slopes less than 30 degrees in clearings, open trees, and alpine terrain."-'Maintain disciplined decision-making and remember that danger may not be obvious.'-'Avoid sun-exposed slopes during warm or sunny conditions.'-'Move one at a time through avalanche terrain and regroup in safe spots without overhead hazard.''We've been tracking these weak layers closely over this past month,' said Avalanche Canada forecaster Zoe Ryan in a news release published by the British Columbia Government. 'Now that the snow on top of them has consolidated, it's a recipe for dangerous avalanches. These highly problematic layers remain primed for human triggering.'Ryan added that safe backcountry travel is essential during the SPAW as avalanche incidents involving the weak layers may prove deadly.'I urge everyone to check the avalanche forecast before heading out, make cautious decisions, and consider delaying their trip to the mountains until conditions are safer,' said Kelly Greene, the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, in the news release. The warning follows two recent avalanche fatalities in British Columbia, according to Avalanche February 23, a group of three snowmobilers were recreating in the Forster Creek below Thunderwater Lake, British Columbia. One member of the party was swept away by an avalanche and fully buried. He was taken to the Invermere Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.A few days earlier, on February 17, an avalanche killed a backcountry traveller on Kapristo Mountain near Golden, British Columbia.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Special public avalanche warning in effect for much of B.C., Alberta backcountry
A special public avalanche warning is in effect for a swath of British Columbia and western Alberta's backcountry, warning of dangerous conditions possible between Thursday, February 27, 2025 through to Monday, March 3, 2025. A snow slab 30-100 cm thick is sitting on weak snowpack layers, elevating the avalanche risk, Avalanche Canada said on social media. 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 — Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) February 27, 2025 "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," reads a statement on the foundation's website. "Avalanche problems of this nature can be difficult to predict and there may be limited clues about deeper snowpack instabilities, but avalanches triggered on these layers are likely to be dangerous and destructive." Backcountry users are advised to use extreme caution while the warning is in effect. Graphic by Cheryl Santa Maria for The Weather Network. Source: Avalanche Canada. Precautions include: Only using slopes that are 30 degrees and situated in clearings, open trees, and alpine terrain. Exercising extreme caution, as instability may be hard to detect. Avoiding sun-exposed slopes. Moving through avalanche terrain one person at a time, only re-grouping in open areas with no overhead hazards. Checking forecasts regularly before heading out. Bringing appropriate equipment, including a transceiver, probe, and shovel, and know how to use them. Header image: File photo via Canva Pro.
CBC
23-02-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Gusty winds and heavy rain expected in southern B.C. as avalanche risk rises
Social Sharing Forecasters are warning of an increased avalanche risk in B.C. amid special weather statements warning of wind and heavy rainfall across the southern half of the province. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Greater Victoria, Surrey, the southern Gulf Islands and the Fraser Valley on Sunday, warning of winds gusting up to 80 km/h as a frontal system rolls through the area. The forecast comes as Avalanche Canada has raised the danger level to high — the fourth highest risk category on a scale of five — for much of the mountainous terrain to the north and east of Metro Vancouver. The warning says that natural avalanches are "likely" while human-triggered slides are "very likely," as the new snow from recent storms is "showing poor bonding to underlying weak layers." WATCH | Avalanche danger rises in B.C.: Forecaster warns of heightened avalanche risk amid warming, heavy precipitation 2 days ago Duration 2:03 Backcountry enthusiasts are being warned about dangerous avalanche conditions in many regions of the province this weekend. As Michelle Morton reports British Columbians are being advised to stay away from wilderness areas if they are not trained on dealing with avalanches. Ryan Buhler, the forecast program manager at Avalanche Canada, said a series of storms were passing through southern B.C. over the weekend and heading into next week — which were causing warming at higher elevations. "After prolonged periods of cold and dry conditions through January and February, we have seen multiple weak layers form within the snowpack," he said. "Now that we are seeing new storm snow accumulating in the mountains, we are expecting some of these weak layers to wake up and dangerous avalanche conditions should be expected." High avalanche danger levels have also been posted in parts of Vancouver Island, the West Kootenay region and parts of the North Coast from Kitimat, B.C. to Terrace, B.C.. "This series of storms will continue into next week," Buhler said. "So we would expect the danger is going to be elevated for the next little while." Extreme rainfall in Kootenays Environment Canada has also issued a winter storm warning for Highway 3 at Kootenay Pass between Grand Forks, B.C. and Creston, B.C. as up to 20 centimetres of wet snow by Sunday night could create "messy and potentially hazardous driving conditions." A special weather statement is also in place for parts of the Kootenay region in southeast B.C., with Environment Canada warning of up to 50 mm of rain in areas such as Fernie, B.C. and Morrissey, B.C. by the end of the weekend. "This rainfall in combination with rising freezing levels and a melting snowpack could create areas of pooling water, and other flood risks," the forecaster's statement reads. Mark Stephens, the manager of emergency programs for the Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary (RDKB), said that residents in the area should keep an eye on catch basins, downspouts and gutters to ensure they're free of debris amid the heavy rain. WATCH | What is an atmospheric river? What is an atmospheric river? 2 years ago Duration 1:23 "The freezing level could be rising as well as high as 2000 metres in the area, which would mean that most of our mountaintops would also get that precipitation as rain as well," he said. "And so that's really what we we monitor." The RDKB has activated its emergency operations centre as a result of the incoming rain, and Stephens said he was keeping an eye on smaller streams and tributaries in the area that can sometimes overflow during heavy rain. River levels could rise The provincial River Forecast Centre issued high stream flow advisories — meaning river levels are expected to rise rapidly — on Friday for almost all of southwest B.C. amid the series of storm systems. There's also a flood watch in place for the Nicola region in the south-central Interior, meaning river levels are already rising and flooding nearby is possible. Dave Campbell with the River Forecast Centre says those in the region can expect ice jamming — where slabs of ice pile up on a river — due to the rapid warming from the rainfall on frozen rivers. "We're kind of coming into this cycle with certainly snow on the ground, but below normal snow, and really expecting quite a transition into this weather with some more moderate to heavy rain and warm temperatures," he said. The forecast centre had issued a snowpack report earlier this month, warning of below-average snowpack levels across the province. "Generally speaking, I think this weekend we'll probably see a little bit of loss in the snow," Campbell said.
