Avalanche Forecast
Purcells
New snow sitting on a hard crust may have created reactive storm slabs at treeline and above. Due to limited data it is CRITICAL to supplement this information with your own observations. Please post your observations to the MIN.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Start cautiously on small slopes before gradually working up to larger objectives.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Dry
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
New snow sitting on a hard crust will very likely create loose dry avalanches in steep terrain where the new snow has not yet settled into a cohesive slab.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, no new avalanches were reported in this region. However, we currently have very limited observations in this region. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
A new crust was formed on Thursday as temperatures cooled and the rain soaked snow surface froze and then was covered by 15-25cm of snow at treeline and above. The new snow has created fresh storm slabs sitting on a crust. The depth of the snowpack varies greatly with elevation. Recent reports suggest the average depth is 150+cm in the alpine, 100-150cm at treeline, and decreasing rapidly below treeline where the primary hazards are rocks, stumps, and open creeks. The major feature in the snowpack is a crust which was formed around Halloween can be found approximately 100cm down at treeline elevations. However, the new surface crust will temporarily reduce the likelihood of triggering on this layer. We currently have very limited snowpack observations within this region and it is critical to supplement this information with your own observations.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Mainly cloudy / Light southwesterly ridgetop winds / Freezing level around 1500 m
SUNDAY: 5-10 cm new snow in the afternoon with an additional 5-10 cm overnight / Moderate to strong southwesterly ridgetop winds / Freezing level around 2400 m
MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light to moderate westerly ridgetop winds / Freezing level around 1500 m
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Purcells URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/purcells.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
15-25 cm of new snow has formed storm slabs sitting on a hard crust. These slabs will be particularly reactive in wind affected terrain.