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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 8th, 2025–Jan 9th, 2025
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Dogtooth, East Purcell, Purcells, West Purcell.

Strong west winds have likely redistributed available snow into wind slabs

Evaluate terrain carefully for wind slabs before committing

Use extra caution in shallow snowpack areas

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

One size 1 wind slab avalanche was remotely triggered by a skier on a west aspect on Tuesday. No other avalanches were reported in the region over the past 2 days.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you see by submitting a MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of low-density snow sits atop a variety of surfaces, including wind-affected snow , surface hoar and facets on northerly     aspects and a thin breakable sun crust on southerly aspects. Moderate westerly winds have redistributed available snow into fresh wind slabs at upper elevations.

A weak layer buried in early December can be found down 30 cm in shallow areas and as much as 120 cm in deep snowpack areas. On shaded slopes, it consists of weak surface hoar or faceted crystals, while on south-facing slopes, it combines a sun crust with facets.

The snowpack base is composed of a thick crust and facets in many areas.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy with trace amounts of snow possible. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 10  cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow possible. 10 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Ongoing westerly wind will likely form wind slabs on easterly aspects.

Wind slab avalanches have the potential to step down to buried weak layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5

Persistent Slabs

The weak layer from early December remains a concern in shallow snowpack areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3