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

REVELSTOKE, B.C. — 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.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 27, 2025.