High risk of avalanche has closed the Trans-Canada Highway between Revelstoke and Golden, which will be closed with no detour until approximately 8 o'clock this evening.

A severe winter storm across much of the southern Interior has brought more than 40 centimetres of snowfall to the region, with 20 to 30 more centimetres expected throughout the day, and as much as 50 centimetres forecasted for Rogers Pass.

This snowfall has caused the closure of Highway 1 due to risk of avalanche between Revelstoke and Golden. Avalanche control work is taking place in four different locations along this section by ministry staff to ensure people's safety once the highway is reopened. The ministry is co-ordinating this work with federal government staff who are undertaking avalanche control work in Glacier National Park to ensure road closure times are minimized.

Highway 1 is also currently closed in both directions at Kicking Horse Canyon east of Golden due to avalanche control, and the road will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so.

Highway 3 will be closed at Kootenay Pass from approximately 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Pacific time) this afternoon due to avalanche control. A detour is available from Nelson to Creston via Highway 3A and the Kootenay Lake Ferry.

A number of travel advisories are in effect for highways in the southern Interior due to heavy snowfall and limited visibility, and people should drive to conditions or reconsider travel if possible.

Drivers are also reminded to check DriveBC.ca and @DriveBC on Twitter for the most up-to-date information, and to obey all traffic control personnel. Traffic is stopped in a safe location prior to avalanche control work with explosives taking place.

Quick Facts:

• The ministry’s provincewide program manages more than 60 avalanche areas that include almost 1,400 individual paths.
• The use of remote avalanche control systems in some areas has reduced the length of closures due to avalanche by approximately 50% to 70%.
• Highly trained avalanche professionals monitor weather and snowpack conditions continuously during the avalanche season.

Learn More:

For more information on the ministry’s Avalanche Safety Program, go to: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-environment/avalanche-safety-program

To see three types of remote avalanche control systems in action, go to: https://www.tranbc.ca/2018/02/20/ka-boom-3-types-of-remote-avalanche-control-in-bc/