Avalanche Forecast
Purcells
Be aware of snow conditions that change with elevation and from one aspect to another. Pockets of wind slab may exist in the alpine while wet or moist snow may become a concern on sunny slopes, and at lower elevations.
Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
- Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.
Avalanche Summary
Explosive control work on Friday produced size 1.5 slab avalanches averaging 20-60 cm deep on steep northerly features at treeline.
Earlier in the week numerous wet loose avalanches were observed in the region to size 2.5 on sunny aspects. As well as both skier and sledder triggered wind slabs up to size 1.5 on south east to west aspects.
Snowpack Summary
A light dusting of new snow (5-10 cm) now covers a crust on all but high elevation northerly aspects which still hold loose, dry snow above a generally well-settled snow pack.
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
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation up to 5 cm. Ridge wind light, northwest. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 1500 m.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind light, west. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 1600 m.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light, southwest. Alpine temperature near -5. Freezing level 1600 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.
Watch for areas of moist or wet snow especially on steep, sunny slopes and near rocky outcrops or gullies.