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

Apr 21st, 2024–Apr 22nd, 2024

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

Regions

Purcells, South Rockies, Dogtooth, East Purcell, Bull, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Isolated pockets of wind slabs may linger in steep terrain in the alpine.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Riders triggered small loose and wind slab avalanches on Friday in steep northerly alpine terrain. Looking forward, it may remain possible for humans to trigger similar avalanches in steep features.

Snowpack Summary

Northerly alpine slopes hold 10 to 20 cm of settled storm snow that overlies a hard melt-freeze crust. Isolated wind slabs may linger in steep northerly alpine terrain. All other aspects and everywhere below treeline have a hard surface crust.

The remainder of the upper snowpack is a mix of hard snow and crusts. The lower snowpack contains old weak layers that are currently dormant.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Monday

Mix of sun and clouds. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 2100 m.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

Problems

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.