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Avalanche Canada warns of higher snowslide risks

Published: 

Changing weather this weekend has increased the risk of avalanche throughout most of the Rockies (X@avalanchecanada)

The change in the forecast is impacting avalanche conditions.

Avalanche Canada says the risk of a snowslide throughout most of the Rockies is currently listed as considerable.

Some parts are already at high.

On its blog, the organization said, “After a lengthy period of low avalanche danger for the southern half of western Canada, conditions are changing and it is now time to shift our mindset to the backcountry.

“Many regions will undergo a major increase in avalanche danger as stormy weather returns,” it added. “The past three weeks of dry conditions formed layers that new snow won’t bond with. As new snow accumulates and forms slabs over these layers, we expect large and dangerous avalanches to be triggered both naturally and by humans.

“These avalanches are likely to propagate widely across slopes.”

Some tips the blog suggested were to stick to dense forests or slopes shallower than 25 degrees without overhead hazard, avoid avalanche terrain altogether as new snow accumulates and stay away from terrain traps, such as cliffs and gullies.

For more information, go here.