Avalanche risk forces highway closures, travel advisories and warnings for B.C. Interior

Vancouver Sun / Times Colonist
January 9, 2013

A high avalanche risk in B.C. has forced highways officials to close many sections of highways in the province and issue travel advisories.

According to Drive BC, Highway 1 is closed from Jackass Mountain Summit to Spences Bridge because of heavy snowfall, with up to 20 centimetres expected today at the summit. Sections of the Trans-Canada Highway are also closed west of Revelstoke and at Glacier National Park.

Highway 3 is closed from Hope to Allison Pass and west of Kootenay Pass. In some areas of the highway, between 40 and 75 centimetres of snow is expected. Highway 3 is also shut down from Rock Creek to Creston.

Snow flurries on the Coquihalla Highway have also led to some closures, including from Hope to Merritt and to Logan Lake. Highway 97C from Merritt to Pennask Summit is also shut down and officials recommend changing travel plans.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Avalanche Centre is warning people in many areas of the province to exercise extreme caution if they're heading out into the backcountry because of a high avalanche risk.

In the Whistler backcountry and south coast mountains, the avalanche rating was upgraded Wednesday to high from moderate. A high rating means very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.