Warm up brings significant avalanche risk: Avalanche Canada

Avalanche Canada is reminding backcountry users to stay safe in the mountain parks as warm weather is leading to more risky conditions.

Avalanche Canada is reminding backcountry enthusiasts that upcoming warm weather could mean another avalanche cycle.

West of Calgary, a vast area of Kananaskis Country is listed as considerable risk, with multiple areas and mountains closed.

This weekend, the Kananaskis area will see lots of sun and double-digit temperatures bringing the potential for large and destructive slides.

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In B.C., the danger is even greater.

Spring made a dramatic entrance to parts of the province last week, bringing freezing levels above 3,000 metres with rain followed by sun.

Forecasters say the result of this is high avalanche danger and a widespread natural avalanche cycle.

Over the last week, throughout B.C., large avalanches failed on buried weak layers, running far into flat terrain. In some cases, even carving out new avalanche paths by taking down mature trees.

On March 28, significant avalanche debris covered an area of the Purcell Mountains, near Leo Creek.

On March 24, three skiers were killed, and another was critically injured after an avalanche in the Kootenay region of British Columbia.

The victims were identified as four heli-skiers who were trapped in a slide near Kaslo.

One week prior, on March 14, two skiers were killed in a pair of avalanches in Alberta’s backcountry.

One happened near the Black Prince Day Use Area, in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. The other, near the Lake Louise ski area.

Backcountry visitors are advised to be alert to conditions and are encouraged to choose low-angle terrain without overhead hazard or terrain traps.