High avalanche risk closes Highway 1 today; snowfall warning for Highway 3 | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kelowna News

High avalanche risk closes Highway 1 today; snowfall warning for Highway 3

Image Credit: tranbc.ca

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With temperatures set to hit double digits in some parts of the region today avalanche risk is increasing, and avalanche control will shut down Highway 1 for part of the day.

Avalanche Canada is expecting the avalanche risk to increase to high at all elevations of Glacier National Park today, Jan. 28, while other Interior ranges are at a considerable risk. Some western ranges also have high risk elevations.

Another 10 centimetres of snow fell in the park area earlier in the week and was followed by a mix of snow and rain Wednesday creating soft layers and cracking on the weak layer.

Drive B.C. notes sections of Highway 1 through Glacier National Park will be closed between noon and 8 p.m. today for avalanche control. The closures are expected to run up to two hours at a time.

More than 110 centimetres of snow has accumulated on the ground at Albert Canyon along the Trans-Canada Highway and Drive B.C. is reporting compact snow and slushy sections in the area and a vehicle incident was delaying traffic from Rogers Pass to near the west boundary of the national park this morning. West of that there are also slippery sections being reported.

Other Interior highways are reporting a mix of fog, freezing rain and water pooling.

A high avalanche hazard has also shut down Highway 99 from Pemberton to Lillooet. An assessment is expected to take place this morning.

A snowfall warning has been issued by Environment Canada for Highway 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass, with up to 25 cm expected by this evening. Avalanche control will be taking place west of Kootenay Pass from 4 to 6 p.m. today as well.

In town temperatures are expected to reach between 7 Celsius and 10 C throughout the region, along with at least a chance of showers today.

Image Credit: Avalanche Canada

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 9:46 a.m., Jan. 28, 2016, with new times for avalanche control as per Drive B.C.

News from © iNFOnews, 2016
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