AVALANCHE TECHNICIANS triggered avalanches in two locations today, meaning Hwy16 between Terrace and Prince Rupert is open again.
The road was closed just before 8 a.m. after heavy overnight rains increased the chances of avalanches by making the snowpack unstable.
“They did trigger avalanches and they got the results which cleared the routes and reduced the risks,” said transportation ministry official Don Ramsay shortly after 2 p.m.
The avalanche techs dropped explosives from a helicopter in order to trigger the avalanches.
There had been worries the highway, the only land route connecting Prince Rupert to the interior, was going to be closed for a much longer period.
More than 60 millimetres of rain fell in the area last night and another 40 millimetres is forecast over the course of today.
Ramsay said 13.2 millimetres of rain fell between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. today at Salvus on Hwy16.
“There’s been 3 millimetres in the past hour. That would have been 3 inches of snow,” he said.
The technicians have now moved on to examine an avalanche hazard on the Shames Mountain road which closed down ski operations today.
