Local rep for Avalanche Canada says risk will be high this Spring

    Thursday, 9 April 2026 06:00

    By Tonya Organ

    Western Sno-Riders photo

    Peter Thurlow says there have been 72 fatalities in NL due to avalanches and 3 deaths on the west coast in the last 15 years.  

    On Monday, the Western Sno-Riders issued a caution on social media concerning avalanches. The group posted a picture of a slide that happened this past weekend in North Arm Hills. The rider was lucky and rode it out while being tossed around and holding a death grip on his handle bars. Peter Thurlow is the local rep with Avalanche Canada. He says with the constant changing temperatures and the amount of snow this winter, avalanche risks are going to be high this spring. Thurlow says that big change is going to drive hazard forward. 

    Thurlow says people need to be aware of what they call, “avalanche terrain,” slopes don’t have to be huge but those above 30 degrees can produce an avalanche. He says the first recorded fatal avalanche in Canada was in Nain, Labrador  during 1782 and 22 people died. Thurlow says there have been 72 fatalities in NL due to avalanches and 3 deaths on the west coast in the last 15 years.  

    Thurlow says they will issue an avalanche forecast Friday afternoon and people can go to avalanche.ca to find out the details. 

     

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