Special avalanche warning issued for wide swath of B.C. Interior

Storm cycles across the province are leaving large swaths of B.C.'s mountain ranges at risk for avalanches.

Avalanche Canada says the prolonged cold, and dry start to winter, left weak layers in B.C. Interior snowpack, but recent storms and warm weather have "destabilized" that snowpack, according to a news release issued today, Dec. 28.

"This has brought the conditions to a tipping point where dangerous avalanches are likely," the release reads.

Avalanche Canada is warning backcountry skiers and snowmobilers heading out into the Columbia Mountains, Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks and the Northern Rockies, which extends across the Alberta border.

The special avalanche warning is in effect until Jan. 2, and extends from the southern boundaries of the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy and Kokanee and Valhalla Provincial Parks to Williston Lake north of Pine Pass and Mackenzie.

"While avalanche danger ratings may start to decrease as the weather improves, there will still be a chance of triggering a large avalanche," the news release reads.

Go to the Avalanche Canada website here for up to date information on avalanche risk ratings.

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