Avalanche warnings issued across B.C. as rain and snow hit

Avalanche warnings have been issued for multiple regions of B.C., including on Metro Vancouver's North Shore mountains, following considerable snowfall from recent storms.

"It's a heightened avalanche danger, essentially throughout the province," Jessie Percival of Avalanche Canada told CBC News. 

For the North Shore mountains and Sunshine Coast, the national organization says "loose wet avalanches" were predicted during the heavy rain on Saturday, and that on Sunday, "rider-triggered storm slabs are possible."

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine for those areas is three out of five, also referred to as 'considerable,' however the risk is reduced on the lower parts of the mountains.

Warnings have also been issued for central Vancouver Island, and the mountains surrounding the Fraser Valley, which run north to west from the U.S.-Canada border, through Whistler and Pemberton.

The warnings are primarily relevant to backcountry users, Percival said.

"We recommend avoiding avalanche terrain," he said. And in areas where warnings are moderate, Percival said to still exercise caution.

Staying safe "takes very specific skills, and being very careful with how you manage yourself on the terrain."

Other areas where avalanche likelihood is marked as 'considerable' include the region east of Prince George and the areas around Kimberley and Cranbrook.

Warnings are highest around Revelstoke National Park, Upper Seymour River Provincial Park and Clearwater, B.C. In these areas, the risk of avalanche in tree line and alpine areas is marked as 'high.' 

That's the second most serious rating and indicates that "natural avalanches are likely and human-triggered avalanches are very likely."

Avalanche Canada recommends that users "choose small, low consequence slopes," adding that "storm slabs are likely sensitive to rider traffic and remote triggering is possible."

Several parts of Glacier National Park are closed this weekend after 60 centimetres of new snow fell. Parks Canada reports that some of the wilderness area surrounding Rogers Pass on Highway 1 is closed. Avalanche Canada says explosives are being used for avalanche control in that area. 

Percival recommended that anyone heading into the backcountry take Avalanche Canada's online training course and pack the appropriate gear as per the organization's guidelines. This, he said, includes a transceiver, shovel, probe and a cell phone or satellite phone.