Recreators are advised to not head into the back country in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and Yoho national parks. (Photo: Canadian Press)

By Canadian Press

Avalanche Canada extends warning into Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper national parks

Dec 30, 2022 | 9:54 AM

BANFF, AB – A special avalanche warning is in place until Monday throughout most of the Columbia Mountains in British Columbia as well as the Northern Rockies in B.C. and Alberta.

The warning, which was issued earlier this week, now includes Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper national parks.

It 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, B.C.

Avalanche Canada says a cold, dry start to the winter created weak layers in the snowpack.

The organization says the recent storm that hit Western Canada added significant snow on top of the weak snowpack, which makes dangerous avalanches likely.

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“The snowpack is currently in a precarious state,” explains Simon Horton, senior forecaster for Avalanche Canada. “The storm cycles that hit western Canada over the past weekend added significant snow on top of an exceptionally weak lower snowpack. This has brought the conditions to a tipping point where dangerous avalanches are likely.”

On Wednesday, areas throughout the Kootenay region had “high” avalanche danger ratings. Most of those have since decreased by one stage to “considerable.”

Avalanche Canada says making conservative terrain choices can help manage risk.

“Sticking to lower angle slopes and choosing smaller objectives that minimize the consequences of an avalanche are examples of how to reduce the risk,” it says in the warning.

Up-to-date avalanche conditions can be found on the Avalanche Canada website.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2022.

READ MORE: High avalanche risk in southeastern B.C.

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