Wet weather pushes up avalanche risk for North Shore, Sea to Sky
Posted February 21, 2021 2:16 pm.
Last Updated February 21, 2021 2:21 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Wet conditions hitting the south coast have pushed up the avalanche risk significantly on the North Shore mountains and in the Sea to Sky region.
Avalanche Canada is warning of high slide danger in the alpine and tree-line areas.
Forecaster Simon Horton with Avalanche Canada says the danger rating is expected to remain high for the next few days.
“A bit lower down there are some uncertainties about rainfall and the freezing levels, so we expect the danger to increase a lot once you get above the rain line,” he says.
“It looks like things will cool off a little bit later this week, which would help things improve. But we’re very much in the midst of this big storm right now, and it’s a time to take a lot of extra caution.”
Staying alert is the name of the game this weekend ????- conditions could hit tipping point at any time. Be prepared for rapidly changing conditions and plan your trips wisely.
Get the forecast ????https://t.co/JwMaRhyDrR #AvCan #AvySavvy #KnowSnow pic.twitter.com/7lYaUvJvxY
— Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) February 20, 2021
While he says the storm is expected to improve Monday, there will still be an elevated danger since it will still take some time for the new snow to settle and strengthen.
RELATED: ‘This is hard on all of us’: Whistler-area avalanche kills snowboarder, second death in two days
Horton stressed the need for avalanche training for anyone planning on heading into the backcountry.
“It’s really important to be able to identify avalanche terrain and avoid it altogether,” he adds.
Two people were killed in different avalanches in Sea to Sky country earlier this month, and others had to be rescued.
The avalanche danger is also considered high throughout much of Vancouver Island.
-with files from Bethlehem Mariam
