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Special avalanche warning

Avalanche Canada has issued a Special Public Avalanche Warning effective immediately.

The warning comes after a vehicle was swept from Highway 1 near Revelstoke on Sunday and as temperatures across the province soar.

The warning is aimed at recreational backcountry users and applies to all the forecast regions in western Canada.
 
A dramatic temperature increase also ups the likelihood of avalanches throughout the mountains that, combined with BC’s spring break means more people are likely to be heading into the mountains.
 
“This is the first big warming to hit our snowpack, which is still fairly complex and winter-like,” explains Senior Avalanche Forecaster Grant Helgeson. “Any time the snowpack is hit with a big change, it tends to de-stabilize. The temperatures are forecast to increase substantially this week, with no nighttime cooling. This will weaken the snowpack on all aspects, increasing the possibility of large natural avalanches as well making it easier for the weight of a person to trigger deeper weak layers.”
 
Avalanche Canada, Parks Canada, and Kananaskis Country warns all backcountry users, including those going outside ski area boundaries, to keep careful track of their regional avalanche forecasts.

Don't forget your essential safety gear including a transceiver, probe and shovel—and the knowledge to use it.

 



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