Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 15th, 2024–Feb 16th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Purcells, Dogtooth, East Purcell.

Tracks on a slope do not mean it is safe.

Deep persistent slabs are a low-probability, high-consequence avalanche problem that are best managed by choosing to ride conservative terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday near Panorama mostly small (size 1) dry loose avalanches have been observed in very steep terrain, In the alpine ski cutting produced small (size 1) windslabs on steep unsupported terrain features.

On Tuesday a few dry loose avalanches were reported out of steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

New snow has buried various layers of soft snow, wind-affected, and sun crusts. Further burying a crust now down 15 to 20 cm. This crust is generally supportive but tapers in the alpine and may be unsupportive to riders.

The midpack is generally faceted and the lower snowpack contains weak faceted grains, depth hoar, and crusts that continue to produce sporadic large avalanches.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12°C.

Saturday

Clear skies and sunny. 0 to 15 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Sunday

Clear skies, becoming cloudy in the afternoon. 5 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.