Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Jan 9 – 10, 2016Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

In isolated parts of the region, there is enough cohesive new snow to create a reactive storm slab on surface hoar. Investigate locally.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    In some parts of the region, wind slabs are lurking behind ridges and ribs. These may be especially touchy where they overlie surface hoar.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–4
    We have not had any new reports of avalanches on this persistent weak layer of surface hoar that is buried down 40-60 cm. Professional operations continue to monitor this weak layer because the consequences of triggering are high.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Loose dry avalanches are especially likely on steep, shady slopes. They can gather enough mass to knock you around or bury you.

Confidence

Moderate

Weather Forecast

A dominant ridge of high pressure brings continued dry weather, a mix of sun and cloud, light northerly winds and cool temperatures. Above about 2000 m, a temperature inversion is expected to raise temps to around -4.For more details check out https://avalanche.ca/weather.

Avalanche Summary

A cycle of naturally-triggered size 1-2 loose dry avalanches was reported on Friday. Most were on steep alpine shady aspects.

Snowpack Summary

5-40 cm recent snow has buried large surface hoar on all aspects at and below treeline and on shaded aspects in the alpine. On south aspects, new snow may be sitting on a sun crust and/or surface hoar, providing an easy sliding layer. The recent snow is mostly unconsolidated and sluffs easily, except where it has been re-distributed by the wind. Fresh wind slabs may be sitting on 10-20 cm of facetted snow. In the mid and southern Purcells, two prominent layers of surface hoar are reactive in snowpack tests. These are buried down 25-50 cm and may have a cohesive slab above. Shallow snowpack areas and moraine features may have weak facetted snow near the ground that will require time and some warming to strengthen.

Regions covered