Avalanche Warning for Northern Interior

Saturday, January 31, 2009 09:09 AM

Revelstoke, B.C. - The Canadian Avalanche Centre has issued a special public avalanche warning for mountainous regions of the northern interior of the province. The area that forecasters are concerned about stretches from Revelstoke to Kamloops north to Chetwynd, and from Mackenzie east to Tumbler Ridge and Valemount.

The CAC says the frigid Artic air that swept through the province in January created a weak type of crystal on the surface of the snow. Forecasters say the snow that has fallen since then is resting on the delicate crystals, creating an unstable layer in the snowpack. As snow accumulates on top of the weak layer, prime avalanche conditions are created.

CAC Operations Manager John Kelly says areas at or below the treeline are the ones that forecasters are most worried about.

"I would urge backcountry users to be very cautious in cut-blocks and other large openings in the trees."

It has been a deadly season in the backcountry with 16 avalanche deaths, 12 of them snowmobiliers. Kelly says many of the accidents result when riders head out to familiar terrain, riding in areas where they always have without assessing the risk for slides.

"This is not a good habit at any time but this year it could be deadly."

The special avalanche warning for the northern interior is in effect until Monday, February 2, 2009.

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