Image Credit: Avalanche Canada

By Victor Kaisar

Avalanche Warning

Special public avalanche warning issued for much of B.C., western Alberta backcountry

Feb 27, 2025 | 1:49 PM

KAMLOOPS — Avalanche Canada has issued a warning for the backcountry across most of British Columbia and western Alberta, saying slides that are triggered slides could be “dangerous and destructive.”

The warning, which includes mountainous areas across the BC Interior as well as the south coast and the northwest coast, is in effect from Thursday, Feb. 27 until Monday, March 3.

“Prominent weak layers have developed in the upper snowpack, formed during periods of drought in January and February and buried between 30 and 100 centimetres deep,” Avalanche Canada said.

“These layers are made up of a variety of surfaces and may consist of surface hoar, faceted snow, or crusts. Overlying these layers, there is now a consolidated slab of snow, creating dangerous avalanche conditions.”

The avalanche danger rating in the Kamloops-area, and across southern B.C. is considerable, according to Avalanche Canada. It is high in the Terrace and Stewart area in northwestern B.C., the fourth highest risk category on a scale of five.

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“After a season of relatively stable avalanche conditions, we are entering a period of dramatic change and it is important to adapt mindsets to reflect this,” Avalanche Canada said.

“Avalanche problems of this nature can be difficult to predict and there may be limited clues about deeper snowpack instabilities, but avalanches triggered on these layers are likely to be dangerous and destructive.”

In the warning, Avalanche Canada is asking backcountry users to choose conservative terrain and to use good travel habits as listed below:

• Choose slopes less than 30 degrees in clearings, open trees, and alpine terrain
• Maintain disciplined decision making and remember that danger may not be obvious
• Avoid sun-exposed slopes during warm or sunny conditions
• Move one at a time through avalanche terrain and regroup in safe spots without overhead hazard

“Everyone in a backcountry party needs the essential rescue gear—transceiver, probe, and shovel—and the training to use it,” Avalanche Canada said.

You can find the latest avalanche forecast and other information here.