Avalanches still pose a risk with warm conditions

Even though we are seeing those nicer days, avalanches still pose a risk. Avalanche Canada says if there is rapid accumulation of snow in the alpine or if there is any remaining snow from the winter season, an avalanche could occur. A forecaster with Avalanche Canada says something like the recent rainfall Southern Alberta experienced doesn’t help either.

“We had a lot of rain falling and upper elevations, this was falling as snow. That kind of rapid accumulation of snow in the alpine did up the avalanche risks, so if people were trying to get out into the back country in places where there is fresh snow right now after all that recent precipitation, they would need to remember that it’s actually more like winter conditions up there than normal summer conditions. They have to be thinking about avalanches,” said Jennifer Coulter, Forecaster for Avalanche Canada.

Coulter is reminding people to carry proper avalanche equipment, like shovels and probes.