Avalanche Canada extends warning as dangerous conditions persist in Rockies, K-Country

Avalanche Canada has extended a special warning issued last week for parts of the Rockies and Kananaskis Country as a combination of snow and weather conditions are continuing to pose serious dangers.

The warning applies only to Banff, Yohoand Kootenay National Parks and Alberta's Kananaskis Country.

The avalanche safety organization says weak snow layers from February are now buried anywhere from 40 to 100 centimetres deep in these regions. With temperatures warming, these layers will be easy to trigger, "and any avalanche triggered on them will be large enough to injure or even kill a person."

"The sun's effect will also make natural and human-triggered avalanches likely over the weekend."

The warning is in effect until the end of Sunday, March 10.

The special warning is no longer in effect for the rest of Avalanche Canada's regions, but dangerous avalanche conditions still exist in some of those areas, the organization said.

"The new snow and blue skies will be tempting, but recreationists should be careful not to let this influence decisions," the release said.

Avalanche Canada reminds backcountry users that everyone in a group should carry the essential rescue gear transceiver, probeand shovel and have the training to use it.