Avalanche and Weather Programs

Our provincial highways pass through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world.  At numerous locations in the mountains our highway system is susceptible to the effects of snow avalanches.

At the Ministry of Transportation, Avalanche and Weather Programs staff work hard to ensure that motorists can rely on a safe provincial transportation system during the winter months. 

The mandate of the Ministry Avalanche Program is to:

  • Ensure the safety of all highway users;
  • Minimize interruptions to traffic.

 

 

Our avalanche technicians monitor 60 avalanche prone areas using a sophisticated network of electronic weather stations, reports of regional avalanche conditions, avalanche occurrence observations and field snow condition investigations.  Eight field avalanche program offices service specific geographic areas.  These areas are:

  • Hope, North Cascades Avalanche Program
  • Pemberton, Coast - Chilcotin Avalanche Program
  • Revelstoke, Columbias Avalanche Program
  • Nelson, Kootenays Avalanche Program
  • Nelson, Kootenay Pass Avalanche Program
  • Penticton, Central Avalanche Program
  • Terrace, Northwest Avalanche Program
  • Stewart, Bear Pass Avalanche Program
 

How Snow Avalanche Programs Ensures Your Safety

Avalanches occur naturally when the bonds that hold the winter snowpack together break from additional stresses created by weather factors such as rain, wind, rising temperatures and/or the weight of new or wind drifted snow. 

During winter months, snow avalanche technicians maintain a constant watch over weather and snowpack conditions.  When conditions indicate that avalanches may affect the highway a temporary closure is initiated to ensure public safety. 

Closures remain in effect until the snowpack regains stability through further change in the weather conditions or through natural avalanche activity.  During these closures the avalanche technician may be able to use explosive devices to artificially trigger the avalanches.  The most common method employed by the ministry is to deploy explosives from a helicopter but this procedure cannot be performed during darkness or adverse weather.

At several critical locations the Ministry has invested in new avalanche control devices that can be remotely fired allowing the avalanche technicians to artificially trigger avalanches during all weather conditions.  At Kootenay Pass and Duffey Lake there are 23 GazEx Exploders and the Columbias program uses 6 Avalanche Guard devices in the Revelstoke area.  Both of these methods provide a highly reliable system for controlling avalanches resulting in the reduced duration of highway closures.

In some locations engineering solutions have been found that reduce or eliminate the effect of avalanches on our highway system.  You may see some of these structures at various locations where snowsheds, arresting mounds or walls, diversion dikes or catchment basins have been constructed.


This concrete wall stops avalanches
from reaching the Coquihalla Highway.

 

 


One of the Kootenay Pass
GazEx devices.


An Avalanche Guard
tower near Revelstoke


A snow shed allows
avalanches to safely
pass over the
Trans Canada Highway

 

 

Working With the Weather to Improve Service

In the late 1970's the Ministry recognized that a new generation of weather monitoring equipment would allow the Avalanche Technicians to monitor weather conditions at the mountain tops where avalanches start.  At that time a handful of independent stations were used to send weather information to the Avalanche Technician office.

Since that time the Ministry's weather monitoring program has grown into a sophisticated network of environmental sensing stations that assist the Ministry in a number of endeavours.

The Remote Avalanche Weather Station system is delivering weather data to Avalanche Technicians province wide. 

The Roadside Weather Station network monitors both weather and pavement conditions allowing our Highway Maintenance Contractors to monitor current road conditions and provide more effective response to these ever changing conditions.

  |
Automated mountain top
weather station.

The latest addition to the network is a provincial Frost Probe Network.  This network allows the Ministry to effectively monitor the seasonal strength of the highway.  This reduces possible costly damage to the highways while minimizing the impact of load restrictions on BC's economy.

The information from all of these stations is collected and distributed to a wide number of stakeholders through a single Snow Avalanche and Weather System.

This information is shared with the Canadian Avalanche Association to assist in the production of their Public Avalanche Bulletins.

These stakeholders include Environment Canada, various University based research programs, the Canadian Avalanche Association, and weather forecasting contractors who supply our Maintenance Contractors and Avalanche Technicians with weather forecast products that improve service delivery.

 

How Can You Participate?

In areas where avalanches may affect the Provincial Highways you will find the safety signs shown above.  The first sign, No Stopping - Avalanche Area lets you know you are in an avalanche area. 

You will see the End Avalanche Area sign as you exit the avalanche area. 

The reason for these signs is simple.  If you stop in an avalanche area you are increasing the length of time you are exposed to this natural hazard.  Continuing down the road to an exit or a rest area is a safer choice.

 

Here are some tips to protect yourself from the danger of avalanches:

  • Make sure your vehicle is well prepared for winter travel.
  • Observe the sign "Do Not Stop - Avalanche Area."
  • Drive carefully on winter roads and in avalanche areas.
  • Be aware of the possibility of avalanche related road closures. Allow extra time to reach your destination.
  • Obey road closures. Highways are closed when the avalanche hazard is high and when avalanche control work using explosives is required.
  • Be aware that avalanches may reach the highway without warning.
  • If an avalanche blocks the highway, remain in your vehicle with seat belts on and await assistance. It is easier to find a car in the snow than it is to find a person. Try to drive to a safe area if possible. Do not attempt to drive through small avalanches.

Backcountry Avalanche Information

If your winter travel involves backcountry recreation in Western Canada (such as ski touring, snowmobiling, ice climbing, snow boarding and snowshoeing) please contact the Canadian Avalanche Association.

Through the exchange of technical information and data by avalanche professionals the Canadian Avalanche Association provides current information on weather, avalanche hazards and backcountry travel conditions to the winter recreationalist. This information can be obtained by phoning:

Additional Information

For other avalanche information, contact:

Avalanche and Weather Programs
Ministry of Transportation
PO Box 9850 STN PROV GOVT (4C-940 Blanshard St.)
Victoria BC V8W 9T5

Telephone: (250) 387-6931