TRANSPORTATION ministry avalanche technicians are hoping the weather is clear enough west of here this morning to use a helicopter to examine two avalanche paths.
More than 60 millimetres of precipitation fell last night and another 40 millimetres is expected today, forcing a closure of Hwy16 between here and Prince Rupert because of a high avalanche hazard.
“There are two [avalanche] paths and they would be between 60km west and 80km west of here,” transportation ministry official Don Ramsay said this morning.
The volume of precipitation and the rate at which it came down have made the snowpack unstable.
Another avalanche hazard has closed the road to Shames Mountain, affecting the ski hill.
Technicians will first determine if avalanches closing Hwy16 have already taken place and the routes have been cleared naturally.
Failing that, they will attempt to place explosives from helicopters in strategic spots to trigger avalanches.
Ramsay said timing of avalanche control and when the highway might re-open is unknown.
“There are a lot of ifs,” he said.
The avalanche technicians will be about at the 1,300 metre elevation.
The actual closures on Hwy16 in both directions fare at the Rainbow Pass and at gates 2km west of Terrace.