Avalanche Forecast
Purcells
More scattered convective snowfall is in the forecast, meaning slab problems will increase in some areas while glimpses of sun destabilize slabs and loose snow on slopes that see sunshine.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use extra caution around high, sheltered north aspects where slabs may overlie surface hoar.
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
- Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.
Avalanche Summary
Thursday's reports included a couple of smaller (size 1-1.5) wind slabs as well as several natural size 1 loose wet releases on south aspects. The slabs were skier triggered and ski cut on north to northwest aspects in the alpine.
Wednesday's reports included observations of several recent natural storm slab releases from Size 1-2, seen on steep alpine slopes on a range of aspects. One small (size 1) ski cut storm slab that released over a sun crust was also reported, as well as natural and ski cut loose dry releases from size 1-2.
Reports from the weekend and earlier in the week included observations of recent loose dry releases that reached size 2 as well as several natural as well as skier and sled-triggered storm slabs from size 1-2. The slabs have been failing from 15-30 cm deep on a steeper north through east aspect in the alpine.
Looking forward, newly formed wind slabs are likely to remain reactive to human triggering over the near term. Watch for intervals of solar exposure to destabilize slabs as well as promote loose wet avalanche conditions on steeper, sun-exposed slopes.
Snowpack Summary
Convective snowfall coupled with strong southerly winds brought a wind-affected 5-15 cm of new snow to the region over Thursday night. The new snow has buried a couple of recent layers of storm snow that are separated by temperature and sun crusts at lower elevations and on south aspects. Surface hoar layers have been reported between these storm snow layers on shaded aspects at higher elevations and can likely now be found at approximately 20 and 40 cm below the surface.
New snow amounts taper with elevation and below about 1900 m, reduced accumulations have buried a supportive crust on all aspects.
Deeper persistent weak layers from mid-late February (down 40 -100 cm deep) as well as January and December layers 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
Friday night: Scattered flurries and 2-5 cm of new snow. Winds decreasing to light from the southwest.
Saturday: Cloudy with continuing scattered flurries bringing a trace to 10 cm of new snow. Light southwest winds. Freezing level to 1200 metres with alpine high temperatures around -8.
Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light southwest winds. Freezing level to 1000 metres with alpine high temperatures around -9.
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light southwest winds. Freezing level to 1400 metres with alpine high temperatures around -7.
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Strong winds blew new snow into wind slabs that are likely to remain reactive to human triggering on Saturday. High north aspects are a special concern for the presence of buried surface hoar that could lead to easier triggering and deeper releases.