Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Apr 8 – 9, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Wind slabs may be reactive to human triggering at upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    Up to 20 cm of recent storm snow has been redistributed by strong southwest winds. Wind slabs have formed in lee areas in the alpine and at treeline.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with isolated flurries / southeast winds, 10-25 km/h / alpine low temperature near -4 C / freezing level 1300 mTUESDAY - A mix of sun and cloud with scattered flurries, up to 10 cm / northwest winds, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -3 C / freezing level 2000 mWEDNESDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods and scattered flurries, 5-15 cm / west winds, 15-35 km/h / alpine high temperature near -3 C / freezing level 1800 m THURSDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, up to 10 cm / alpine high temperature near -4 C / alpine high temperature near -5 C / freezing level 1800 m

Avalanche Summary

Small (size 1-1.5) wind slabs were reactive to skiers on Sunday, generally around ridgetops and steep, convex terrain above 2200 m. The most reactive deposits were in immediate lee features, including a size 2 wind slab avalanche remotely triggered from a rocky saddle 10 m away. On Saturday, there were a few reports of natural and human triggered wind slab avalanches, mainly in the alpine on north and east facing slopes.On Thursday, there were a few reports of natural and human triggered storm and wind slab avalanches in the alpine, as well as a few human triggered loose wet avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of recent storm snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow. Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline.The base of the snowpack is composed of sugary faceted snow. The likelihood of triggering an avalanche on this layer is lower during colder periods and elevated during intense warming.Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevation.

Regions covered