By Dylana Milobar

Potential avalanche danger still not clear with spring snowmelt on the way

Mar 10, 2019 | 10:32 AM

KAMLOOPS — While it may still be full-on winter in the mountains, the annual spring snowmelt is on the way, and it remains to be seen what that will mean for avalanche danger in the Interior and Cariboo.

Avalanche Canada Forecaster Kate Devine says, the last 6 weeks have been fairly dry and cold, with not a lot of snow coming down in the Interior.

“Although temperatures are expected to go up a bit over the weekend and into next week in the valley bottom, things are actually staying relatively cool in the mountains,” She explains, “Freezing levels that I’ve seen so far are forecast to go to about 1500 m, which isn’t outrageously high for mountain conditions. So things are still on the wintery side for mountain conditions.”

While every winter is a little bit different, Devine says the dry, cold February causing some places in B.C to set temperature records has been unusual.

When the weather really starts to warm up, Devine says there are a few scenarios that can happen in the mountains.

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“Sometimes we have lots of storms with dry snow falling in the spring and it feels a lot more like mid-winter,” She explains, “Sometimes we get into more of what we call a melt-freeze cycle. Which means that it gets warm and sunny during the day, and the surface of the snow gets moist or wet, and then overnight it re-freezes. That makes for quite good snow stability and low avalanche hazard.”

However, another possibility that could make for less stable avalanche conditions would be if the temperature doesn’t get below zero at night, which Devine says makes for little recovery time and a continual melt. 

“When avalanche hazard is high, it’s definitely recommended to avoid avalanche terrain,” She says, “That doesn’t necessarily mean staying out of the backcountry, but out of avalanche terrain.”

In regards to a recent 2.2 magnitude earthquake which struck just outside of Salmon Arm last week, Devine says that minor shake up didn’t really have an impact on the snowpack levels, and didn’t increase the avalanche danger for the area.

“Its definitely pretty rare around here,” She says.

Forecasts, and more information can be found on Avalanche Canada’s website, which can be accessed here.