‘Avoid the backcountry’: Avalanche Canada says to stay away after 50 cm of snow falls overnight

Avalanche Canada warned visitors to steer clear of Kananaskis back country Thursday after more than 40 cm of snow fell overnight, increasing the likelihood of an avalanche to extreme.

Avalanche Canada posted a warning to its website Thursday after a heavy overnight snowfall in the Kananaskis backcountry.

It said that more than 50 centimetres of snow fell overnight “with more to come.”

“Avoid all avalanche terrain for the next two days,” it added, in a post prepared by the Kananaskis Mountain Rescue Program.

“Areas of Kananaskis Country are intermittently closed for avalanche control using explosives. Closures will be indicated in headline below,” it continued.

“Avoid the backcountry,” it said, in a Thursday morning update posted at 9:30 a.m.

The danger rating for Thursday was rated five for three different areas in the back country -- alpine, tree line and below tree line -- which Avalanche Canada’s website said translates into “Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain.”

Under the heading “Likelihood,” they said, “Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.”

A snowfall warning for the Canmore area was issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada at 4:42 a.m. Thursday.

“Heavy snow will taper off later this morning. Total snowfall amounts of 10 to 20 are expected by the time the snow ends. Travel will likely be challenging.”