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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 10th, 2025–Apr 11th, 2025

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, West Purcell.

If a thick surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.Buried weak layers continue to produce large avalanches that may run to valley bottom.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, several small storm slabs (size 1.5) were triggered with explosives in the alpine on north to northwest aspects.

On Tuesday, there were several natural and rider-controlled wind slabs, mostly small, but up to size 2.

A recent large persistent slab (size 2.5) seen near Panorama is suspected to have occurred in the past 4 days. From a northeast aspect in the alpine.

Persistent slab avalanches have been occurring on northerly slopes in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

Around 10 to 30 cm of snow this week, with the most on the west side of the region, likely melted and is expected to refreeze into a crust. If it is cloudy overnight, the crust may be thin and break down quickly. Northerly slopes in the alpine are unlikely to have a surface crust.

Several weak layers can be found in the mid and lower snowpack. These layers remain a concern where there is no thick crust above them.

The base of the snowpack is generally faceted.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 10 mm/cm of rain/snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Sunday

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

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.