Purcells

At this time of year resist the urge to rely on danger ratings alone. Daytime warming or periods of sun can rapidly elevated danger ratings above what is forecast. Check out this blog post for more info on how to manage risk during the spring.

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Synopsis:  A weak ridge of high pressure will shift eastwards as the next system moves in over the region Monday night with precipitation forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.Tonight and Monday: Partly cloudy with a chance of wet flurries /  Moderate southerly winds / Freezing levels 2000 - 2500m Tuesday: Flurries (5-15 cm) / Light southerly winds / Freezing levels 1900 to 2400m Wednesday: Flurries (5-20cm) / Light westerly winds / Freezing levels 1500 to 2000m

In areas where the upper snow is moist and sits above a crust small wet slabs have been triggered by skiers.  At lower elevations and on solar aspects small to large loose wet avalanche continue to be triggered on steep slopes. Cornices collapses have been reported during periods of daytime warming. Occasionally these heavy triggers have caused large deep slab avalanches on the slopes below.

The region has recently received between 10 and 30cm of new snow with snowline currently sitting somewhere around 1100m.  Below the recent snow a melt-freeze crust can be found on all but high elevation North aspects. Moderate winds have affected all Wind slabs can be found in lee features on N and E aspects in the Alpine.Several persistent weak layers still exist in the highly variable snowpack of the Purcells:-The mid-March sun crust/surface hoar layer down 50-80cm and the early-March crust/facet/surface hoar layer down around 80-120cm seem to be laying dormant for the time being.-The mid-February crust/facet/surface hoar combo is typically down 60 - 120cm. Direct triggering of this layer has become unlikely, however, cornice fall, a smaller avalanche in motion or prolonged warming may wake this layer up. The resulting avalanche would be very large and destructive.- Weak basal facets can be found in many areas, however triggering this layer is unlikely.