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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 20th, 2025–Apr 21st, 2025

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.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Purcells, Dogtooth, East Purcell, West Purcell.

Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, several naturally triggered dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported.

NOTE: Observations are currently very limited in this region.

Snowpack Summary

Most terrain has experienced significant melt-freeze conditions, though some northerly alpine slopes may still hold a few centimetres of dry snow.

While weak layers at the bottom or middle of the snowpack have been a concern throughout the season, the current lack of avalanche activity and benign weather suggest they are not a concern at this time. They could become problematic again this spring whenever temperatures rise significantly.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Carefully evaluate big and steep terrain features before committing to them.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.