Introducing Hot Zone Reports

Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Tagged under: FEATURED
SNOWMOBILE

Avalanche Canada is currently testing a new product for data-sparse regions.

Thanks to funding from Recreation Sites & Trails BC, Avalanche Canada is currently testing a new product for data-sparse regions that we’re calling Hot Zone Reports. We’re testing these reports in the North Rockies region at the Renshaw and Kakwa areas, and in the Northwest Inland region at the Telkwa and Hankin-Evelyn areas.

Hot Zone reports will provide critical snowpack and weather information, along with general risk management advice for that particular area. These site-specific reports are based on information provided through the Mountain Information Network (MIN). When enough users in a Hot Zone area submit information, AvCan forecasters can create a Hot Zone Report. When a Hot Zone Report is created, the marker on the map will be blue. When there is no valid report, the marker will be grey.

In this testing phase, Avalanche Canada forecasters are creating reports without data, just to show users what type of information will be available. An important part of the process is soliciting feedback from users in the region on the report’s format and the value of the information offered. Testing will wrap up in early May. All comments and feedback will be considered and if changes are needed, they will be made over the summer.

After testing is complete, and if funding is in place, Avalanche Canada will run a pilot program for the winter of 2016 using real data. With regular MIN reports, forecasters look forward to improving the avalanche safety services to the backcountry users in these areas.

“We have long wanted to improved services for data-sparse regions and these Hot Zone Reports will certainly meet a need,” explains Karl Klassen, Warning Service Manager. “While we don’t have the data stream needed for a daily forecast, there’s a lot of potential in the information submitted by MIN users. We really hope that backcountry users in these regions will play a role this coming winter by submitting MIN reports regularly.”