How rain and intense storms will change Canada’s alpine environments – and complicate avalanche forecasting

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Climate change will make forecasting and prevention trickier as more intense storms and temperature swings affect snowpacks on Canada’s mountains, avalanche experts say

The atmospheric rivers that caused heavy rains and flooding in British Columbia last year did most of their damage in low-lying areas close to the province’s coast. But they also left their mark on mountain peaks across Western Canada.

On the south-facing slope of the mountain, where sunlight helps bond different layers of snow, he said, the crust will Mr. Floyer said rain, and rain crusts, are becoming more common in winter alpine environments as climate change affects global weather patterns. Above, James Floyer and Peter Thurlow ski higher up the ridge of Mount Mackenzie to check conditions in a neighbouring valley. Below, Thurlow and Floyer assess how different layers of snow are bonding in a snow pit they dug out to see whether a weak layer will break off and slide.Although the risk of avalanches is increasing, the number of fatalities from them in Canada is relatively low.

The agency usually tries to guide people toward relatively safe terrain during adverse weather events, rather than advise against any activity at all – but this storm was different. “It’s not even just the direct winter issues, but the whole general scope of the change in climate has really affected avalanches,” Mr. Buffery said. “It’s new for us in the last couple years to have to monitor this.”

 

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