Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Dogtooth, East Purcell, Purcells, West Purcell.
Head to high north facing slopes to find the best conditions.
Wet loose avalanches remain possible as warm temperatures continue.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday avalanche activity was limited to size 1 wind slab in wind affected terrain, and loose wet on steep solar aspects.
On Friday, a natural cornice fall triggered a 2.5-sized slab on a northeasterly alpine slope, following natural persistent slab activity from thin rocky northerly terrain near Panorama on Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
The snow surface is either a thin crust or moist snow to 2500 m. High alpine north facing slopes may still hold dry snow above a thick crust from late March.
Several weak layers from early March, mid-February and late January can be found in the mid and lower snowpack. These layers remain a concern where a thick crust isn’t present above.
The base of the snowpack is generally faceted.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Mostly clear. 10 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing levels remain above 2300 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds with light flurries possible in the east and up to 5 cm in the west. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level lowering to 2000 m.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level around 2000 m.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level around 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Loose avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches are still possible as temperatures remain high and the snowpack has limited chance of refreezing overnight.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Cornices
Cornices are weak and may break further back on ridgelines than expected. These large loads can trigger buried weak layers on the slope below.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
Several persistent weak layers exist in the upper meter of the snowpack. The likelihood of persistent slab avalanches will increase if the melt-freeze crust near the surface breaks down.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2.5 - 3.5