Avalanche Forecast
Purcells
Some snow and cooler temperatures in the forecast. But not enough inputs to impact the danger rating in the short term.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
- Watch for wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and roll overs.
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous wet loose avalanches were observed in the region to size 2.5 over the past four days on sunny aspects.
On Sunday we received reports of a skier caught in a size 2.5 avalanche in the north of the region. The slab was 20-50 cm thick and started on a steep north east aspect immediately below ridge crest at 2300m. See the MIN post for more details.
Snowpack Summary
Recent sun and warm temperatures have resulted in moist or wet snow on sunny aspects then freezing to form a crust overnight. Generally high elevation northerly aspects still have dry snow.
A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 40-100 cm) have shown limited reactivity of late. Persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects, where surface hoar and/or facets exist. Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets also linger at the base of the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Light west wind / Alpine temperature 1 / Freezing level 1700m
FRIDAY: Scattered flurries / Light northwest wind / Alpine temperature 0 / Freezing level 1700m
SATURDAY: Scattered flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1600m
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Snow and wind from last week have formed variable wind slabs. In places these slabs may be sitting on a layer of small surface hoar.