Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Dogtooth, East Purcell, Purcells, West Purcell.
Cooling temperatures are reducing the likelihood of triggering large persistent slab avalanches.
Avoid steep or convex terrain features with a shallow, rocky snowpack.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A cornice fall triggered a large size 2.5 avalanche that released to the ground near Kimberly on Saturday.
Snowpack Summary
Recent snow buries a surface crust that varies in thickness and supportiveness.
Depending on elevation, Refrozen and moist snow can be found in the upper snowpack.
Below this, weak layers of facets and crusts remain a concern for human-triggering where a supportive melt-freeze crust has not yet formed or breaks down during the day with rising freezing levels and periods of sun.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Increasing clouds. 10 to 15 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Monday
Cloudy, isolated flurries, 1 to 2 cm. 10 to 15 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing levels 1700 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy, flurries, 2 to 4 cm. 15 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy, isolated flurries, 1 to 2 cm. 20 to 30 km/h ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A cooling weather pattern is reducing the likelihood of human-triggered weak layers in the snowpack. Avoid shallow or variable depth snowpack areas and slopes above cliffs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3