Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Feb 7 – 8, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Cold temps and time have gone to work on the wind slabs and they're largely unreactive at this time. Winds have also backed off, so fresh wind slab formation is unlikely. Watch for the odd rider triggerable wind slab immediately lee of ridge crest.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: The formidable ridge continues to dominate the weather through the weekend before breaking down on Monday as a series of frontal systems out of the SW begin to stack up offshore. Saturday: Sky: Overcast; Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precip: Nil Wind: Light, VariableSunday: Sky: Overcast; Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precip: Nil Wind: Light, VariableMonday: Sky: Overcast; Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precip: 2/5 cm Wind: Light, SW | Mod SW at ridgetop.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was reported on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

The January 29th system left 10 - 20 cm of snowfall in it's wake with the greatest accumulations in the southern portion of the region. Winds largely dominated by northerly outflow formed pockets of wind slab up to 40cm deep immediately lee of ridgecrest, but they're mostly unreactive at this point.Just underneath the settled storm snow and raggedy old wind slabs lies a significant weakness composed of large surface hoar (widespread in most sheltered and shaded areas at all elevations), a sun crust on south facing slopes, faceted grains (in colder areas or areas with a thinner snowpack), or a combination of the above. This variable weak layer is expected to become a problem early next week when precipitation once again graces the province. The rest of the snowpack is generally well consolidated.In isolated areas where the snowpack is thinner or in steep rocky features a facet/crust weakness near the ground remains a concern. In most places the depth of this layer combined with the strength of the overlying slab makes triggering an avalanche unlikely. However, if you were unlucky enough to find a weak spot the consequences could be deadly serious.

Regions covered