Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Dogtooth, East Purcell, Purcells, West Purcell.
Melt-freeze crusts vary in thickness and supportiveness and may break down throughout the day.
Continually assess the surface snow and back off steep slopes where the surface is moist.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Dry and wet loose avalanche activity has been observed throughout the region, depending on elevation.
A widespread, large, destructive avalanche cycle occurred across the region, involving weak layers buried deep in the snowpack
Read the Forecaster Blog for an opportunity to reflect on this week's widespread avalanche activity.
Snowpack Summary
Recent snow buries a surface crust that varies in thickness and supportiveness.
Refrozen and moist snow can be found in the upper snowpack, depending on elevation.
Below this, weak layers of facets and crusts remain a concern for human-triggering where a supportive melt-freeze crust has not yet formed or breaks down during the day with rising freezing levels and sun.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Mainly clear skies. 5 to 10 km/h southeast wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 15 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -3 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Monday
Partly cloudy, isolated flurries, 3 to 5 cm. 15 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -3 °C. Freezing levels 1800 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy, isolated flurries 4 to 5 cm. 10 to 20 km/h ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures 0 °C. Freezing levels 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avalanche danger will increase as the surface crust breaks down.
- Loose avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in larger avalanches.
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Human triggering remains possible where a supportive melt-freeze crust has not yet formed or breaks down throughout the day with rising freezing levels and sun. Back off steep slopes if surface snow becomes moist.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Loose Wet
Recent snow depths are variable, and wet loose avalanches will become increasingly sensitive with even small windows of sun. Wet loose avalanches could involve moist snow in the upper snowpack.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2