Avalanche Forecast

Poor - Due to limited field observations

Sunday should continue to be cooler and drier in the morning. The next wave of precipitation should move on to the coast around mid-day Sunday and begin to affect the interior ranges Sunday night and into Monday. This region may be too far East to receive more than light to moderate precipitation. The exception may be the Dogtooth area which may see moderate to heavy precipitation combined with moderate to strong southwest winds.

A cycle of natural avalanche activity was observed in Quartz Creek on Sunday the 13th. Wind slabs (20cm deep) and persistent slabs (60cm deep) were observed. Persistent slabs were propagating widely and running on a weakness towards the base of the snowpack. Observations are limited to the northern Purcells so I don't know if this kind of thing is still occurring here. We have no new reports of avalanches.

There is significant variability in the snowpack across the region. Snowpack depth at treeline varies from around 40-130cm. Up to 50cm of snow fell late last week and over the weekend, which was redistributed by strong winds blowing first from the south and then from the north-west. A basal layer of facets was reported in the Dogtooth Range, with a weak interface between the lower facets and recent storm snow. Cold temperatures should cause continued facetting on the surface and in the basal layers.