Significant avalanche risk over the holidays

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Think twice about making a trip to the mountains to enjoy the snow over the holidays.

Avalanche Canada has special warnings in place from western Alberta into British Columbia after heavy snowfall that began last week.

Kananaskis Country is seeing some of the highest danger, while warning stretch south to Waterton and also west across the border into the Purcells region.

“The avalanches are long, they’re wide and they’re deep,” said Ilya Storm, a Forecast Program Supervisor with Avalanche Canada. “Conditions are primed for either triggering one yourself or being surprised by one of these lingering problems.”

The risk also picks up further west towards Vancouver, as warnings are in place for both South Coast Inland and Sea to Sky.

It can also be very unpredictable in the regions, so pay extra attention to your surroundings.

“Even today, it’s hard for the pros to distinguish between a slope that’s safe and a slope that’s a concern,” Storm added. “Really be careful with overhead hazard. I would avoid overhead hazard, I don’t want things hanging above me.”

“Even if I’m down in the valley bottom and I’m crossing an avalanche path. I’d want to be thinking twice about that, and I certainly don’t want to stop and enjoy the sunshine in there. I want to move across that fast.”

There are ways to protect yourself if venturing out anyway, beginning with the proper safety gear such as an avalanche beacon, a shovel and a probe.

Also, you can consider a hiring a guide if you’re less experienced but still feeling adventurous.

The Banff region picked up around 40 centimetres of snow since Friday, and it was even heavier the further west with snowfall amounts approaching a metre in the British Columbia interior.

The special warnings are also active for Elkford and the Lizard Range.

There aren’t any special warnings for the Cariboos, Glacier National Park, North Columbia, South Columbia, and Kootenay Boundary but the risk still goes from considerable to high.

Unfortunately is does not seem like the situation will improve by the end of the week, and you are encouraged to check Avalanche Canada’s website before heading out.

“Because of the deep weak layer, things are not going to improve really any time soon,” said Storm.

You can also stick to the resorts if you need to play in the snow over the break, but Storm said while it may be hard to resist it may not be worth the risk.

“I know it’s hard to be told to be patient during a powder day and during the holidays, but we’ve got to be on mountain time.”

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