Item: THE STATE OF THE SNOWPACK: A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH FOR TRANSFORMING HOW AVALANCHE FORECASTS ARE INTERPRETED AND APPLIED
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Title: THE STATE OF THE SNOWPACK: A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH FOR TRANSFORMING HOW AVALANCHE FORECASTS ARE INTERPRETED AND APPLIED
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Morgan Dinsdale [ State Of The Snowpack Public Safety Society, Nelson, BC ]
- Jason Wishlow [ State Of The Snowpack BOD, Whitewater Ski Resort Forecaster, Nelson, BC ]
- Catherine Paone [ State Of The Snowpack Public Safety Society, Nelson, BC ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: Avalanche forecasts are widely accessed, but access alone does not ensure understanding or safe decision-making. Despite ongoing advances in forecasting, a persistent gap remains between public avalanche forecasts and professional observations, and how backcountry users interpret and apply this information in real-world decision-making. Improving this connection requires new approaches to engaging with avalanche information. State of the Snowpack Public Safety Society(SOTS) is a community-based approach designed to address this gap by influencing how avalanche forecasts are interpreted and applied. Through structured, recurring live events shared via livestream, qualified professionals (Canadian Avalanche Association Level 2-certified or greater) interpret current conditions and engage directly with their backcountry communities. These events translate snowpack conditions into local, experience-based narratives, facilitate dialogue among diverse user groups, and reinforce public avalanche forecasts. Within this setting, participants move beyond reading forecasts toward actively interpreting them—comparing perspectives, challenging assumptions, and developing a shared understanding of conditions across terrain and user groups. This process supports improved risk literacy and more informed decision-making. Community-based avalanche education is not new, but it has traditionally been delivered through one-off events with limited reach and consistency. SOTS systematizes this approach into a repeatable, scalable model through a consistent event structure delivered regularly across regions and amplified through livestream and digital platforms. This creates continuity, expands access, and sustains engagement beyond the room. Since 2019, SOTS has grown into a nationally coordinated network spanning British Columbia to Quebec. During the 2025/26 season, SOTS chapters delivered 40 free events in 10 communities, engaging over 4,400 participants, with thousands more reached digitally. In March 2026 alone, SOTS content generated over 50,000 views. SOTS demonstrates how structured, community-driven interpretation of avalanche conditions can strengthen the link between avalanche information and public behaviour, offering a scalable, transferable approach with relevance for avalanche safety practitioners and communities worldwide.
Object ID: ISSW2026_P3.5.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790099205
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Morgan Dinsdale
Keywords: Risk communication; Decision making; Avalanche forecasting; Community-based education; Public safety; User behaviour
Page Number(s): 283 - 290
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