Avalanche risk in northern B.C. closes Pine Pass along Highway 97

An avalanche risk has closed a section of Highway 97 between Chetwynd and Prince George in northern B.C.

A 32-kilometre stretch of the thoroughfare was closed Wednesday between the West Pine rest area and Azouzetta Lake Lodge and Campground, Argo Road Maintenance told CBC News.

It said small avalanches have filled catchments at Link Creek and they are expected to affect the road. The company said capacity is limited to deal with any avalanche deposits.

DriveBC says the avalanche danger in the closed area is considered a Level 4 — the second highest risk rating on the North American public avalanche danger scale. It's set to provide an update on the closure Wednesday afternoon.

Environment Canada says 77 centimetres of snow has fallen in the Pine Pass over the past five days.

Colin Garrity, a forecaster and field technician for Avalanche Canada, told CBC's Daybreak North Wednesday morning that stormy weather is underway for much of Western Canada with high risk warnings across B.C.

"These are ratings for dangerous and even very dangerous avalanche conditions pretty much across the board. Danger increases with elevation. So, alpine areas will be the greatest concern," said Garrity.

Forecasts and danger ratings can be found on the Avalanche Canada website.