Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Recent weather patterns have resulted in a high degree of snowpack variability within the region.

Snowfall amounts vary by forecast model and location in the region. The southwest Purcells are expected to receive the most snow.

Monday Night: Snow 5-20 cm possible, strong southwest wind, low of -3 °C.

Tuesday: Snowfall 5-20 cm, moderate to strong southwest wind, freezing levels between 1700- 2000 m, treeline high of +2. 

Tuesday night into Wednesday: Light flurries, 3-8 cm, light to moderate southwest wind, treeline high around +2.

Wednesday night into Thursday: 5-10 cm, light southwest wind, treeline highs around +2.

On Sunday and Monday there were reports of small (size 1-1.5) skier controlled wind slabs in in the region.

Snowfall amounts have varied substantially throughout the region with the southwest side of the Purcells getting the greatest snowfall amounts. Recent storm snow (10-40 cm) will need time to bond to a variety of old surfaces such as firm wind-pressed snow, sun crust on solar aspects, surface hoar, and potential cold weak crystals on shaded aspects.

An interface from mid-February is likely now down 40-60 cm. This layer was previously only reactive in wind-loaded terrain where a slab had formed but may become more problematic if covered with a more widespread cohesive slab.

Below that on sheltered north aspects, there is still a surface hoar layer being tracked that was formed in late January. Though there haven't been reports of recent avalanches on this layer in this region, it is still on the radar of many operations and could potentially wake up during the storm. 

• As the storm slab problem gets trickier, the easy solution is to choose more conservative terrain.
• Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 25cm of new snow.
• Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
• Stick to well supported, lower angle terrain.