Areas impacted by the special public avalanche warning. (Avalanche Canada)

By David Opinko

Avalanche warning expanded to more East Kootenay regions

Jan 21, 2022 | 12:38 PM

SPARWOOD, B.C. – More areas in Southeastern B.C. are now under a Special Public Avalanche Warning.

Avalanche Canada put out the warning on Thursday, saying that warmer temperatures and persistent sunshine were having a destabilizing effect on the snowpack. This has resulted in increased likelihoods of human-triggered snow slides.

The expanded warning on Friday includes the South Rockies and Lizard Range, meaning anyone recreating in the backcountry in the Crowsnest Pass, Fernie, Sparwood, and Elkford areas are impacted.

The original note included the North and South Columbias, Purcells, Kootenay Boundary, and the Glacier, Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks. It also applies to an area within the Sea-to-Sky and South Coast Inland regions from Squamish to Pemberton.

READ MORE: Special public avalanche warning in Banff, B.C. mountainous regions

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“There are persistent weak layers in the mountain snowpack across most of southern BC and western Alberta,” explains James Floyer, Forecasting Program Supervisor for Avalanche Canada. “This special warning targets regions where these layers have proven to be an issue.”

He adds that there have been several close calls reported recently with many large avalanches running the full extent of their paths.

“There is a lot of uncertainty with these weak layers. While we have targeted an area where we think there is a higher risk of triggering these deep weak layers, we also urge backcountry users in adjacent regions to exercise caution during this warming period.”

The warning is in effect now until the end of Monday, January 24.

Backcountry users are urged to check their regional avalanche forecasts at avalanche.ca.

Avalanche Canada also lists the essential rescue gear that all people utilizing the backcountry wilderness should have with them, including a transceiver, probe, and shovel.