After one of the warmest and driest years on record, it should be no surprise the snowpack in northern BC is smaller than what it normally is this time of year.
Tyson Rettie, an Avalanche Canada Avalanche Forecaster, told My PG Now “It is [still] dry and warm in the north Rockies.”
He said the weather, especially around New Year’s Eve, has created a “significant crust in the snowpack that extends up to treeline.”
“That has made for poor sledding and skiing conditions, however having that crust has reduced the avalanche hazard at treeline and particularly below treeline,” he explained.
Rettie said the Prince George area avalanche risk is moderate to low right now, but conditions change all the time.
“The main thing is to read the forecast every day before you head into the mountains,” Rettie told winter adventurers. “As we get in to cold periods, it is likely that is the more significant hazard – even small injuries and accidents become more consequential.”
With that in mind, he urged people to properly prepare with warm clothes and emergency supplies before heading into the mountains.
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