Avalanche Forecast
Purcells
Warming alpine temperatures may give some surprising releases, especially in steep terrain.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Approach steep open or sparsely treed slopes cautiously.
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Wind slabs have been reported and are likely to continue to develop in exposed terrain. Warmer temperatures at higher elevations may also make the upper snowpack denser.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, a size 1.5 avalanche involving two people near Invermere was reported. It was suspected to have run on the mid-December weak layer. On Saturday a skier triggered size 2 persistent slab avalanche running on a layer of facetted snow from mid-December was reported. This happened in the north of the region's Dogtooth Range on a west aspect at 2400m. Expect the potential to trigger persistent slabs to increase as last week's storm snow continues to settle into a cohesive slab.
Snowpack Summary
20-40 cm low density new snow has accumulated and buried a recently formed layer of weak feathery surface hoar and/or sugary facets. Another layer buried mid-December that consists of surface hoar, sun crust and/or sugary facets is down approximately 40-70cm and has been reported at elevations up to 2400 m. The likelihood of triggering avalanches on either of these layers is related to how dense the upper snowpack is. In areas where the upper snowpack has settled into a firmer slab, the weak layers below are more likely to be triggered.
A rain crust that formed in late November is now buried 70-110cm deep. Recent reports show this layer to be unreactive at this time.
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Cold air in the valleys, warmer air up high that is expected to get close to 0C above 2200m. Some valley cloud is possible, clear at upper elevations. Light variable winds.
Thursday: Clear in the morning, cloud developing through the day. Inversion conditions expected to persist. Moderate southwesterly winds.
Friday: Cloudy with some flurries. Freezing level creeping up to around 1000 m. Some warm air remaining at higher elevations. Moderate southwesterly winds
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A weak layer of surface hoar buried 30-50 cm deep is expected to become more reactive as warmer temperatures help settle recent new snow into a cohesive slab.