By Jill Sperling

Ice and avalanche risks rise with increasing temperature

Jan 16, 2017 | 3:52 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops will see a reprieve from the cold weather this week, with temperatures reaching well above zero. While that sounds like good news for the outdoor enthusiast, it could spell trouble for those who fail to plan for changing conditions. 

Environment Canada is forecasting the temperature to rise as high as +9°C on Wednesday. With temperatures like that on the way, Kamloops Search and Rescue has a word of caution for those venturing out on the ice. 

“Once things warm up as warm as they’re predicting it’s going to warm up there’s definitely a risk to people going out ice fishing, and just going out on the ice in general,” volunteer search manager Alan Hobler said. “So, always make sure you check the thickness of the ice on flat ice, on lakes, and ensure it’s safe enough to go out on.”

Hobler says people should use an axe or auger to create a test hole to judge whether the ice is an appropriate thickness. 

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According to the Red Cross, ice should be at least 15 cm thick for walking or skating alone, 20 cm for groups, and 25 cm for snowmobiles.

Hobler says people should be extra cautious on rivers, where not only is the ice unpredictable, but it’s also more difficult to perform a rescue. 

“You can have shallow spots on the ice, and it looks like it’s thick, you can walk out there and it will feel solid, but you’ll hit thin spots and you can fall into the river, and the current of the river will actually push you under where there’s thicker ice,” Hobler said.

Ice isn’t the only safety concern as the temperature rises. The risk of avalanches also increases.

“Recently the avalanche conditions have been fairly stable in this area,” Hobler said, “but when it warms up that could change, as well as it brings in more moisture air which can bring in a lot more precipitation which will increase the hazard for avalanches.”

While an avalanche is fairly unpredictable, Avalanche Canada will post avalanche forecasts to give people an idea of when and where the risk is greatest. 

“You should also take an avalanche awareness course to decrease your risk and become more aware of what conditions are like when you head out,” added Hobler.

Whether heading out to the backcountry or to the lake for some ice fishing, preparation and knowledge of conditions are the keys to making sure your next adventure doesn’t become a rescue mission. 
 

NOTE: The video version of this story states the Canadian Avalanche Association posts avalanche forecasts, however, Avalanche Canada is the organization that produces public avalanche risk forecasts.