Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Dec 21 – 22, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Keep your guard up at all elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive and could extend into openings below treeline.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Up to 50 cm of recent snow and strong southwest winds continue to form wind slabs reactive to human triggers.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Triggering deeper weak layers is most likely to occur in isolated areas where a supportive crust below the recent snow is not present.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, an explosive triggered size 1.5 persistent slab avalanche was reported on a northerly aspect at treeline. The slab failed on a crust down 80 to 110 cm.

Several skier triggered wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5 were also reported on northerly aspects at treeline.

Snowpack Summary

30-50 cm of recent snow and strong southwest winds have formed slabs that will be most reactive in wind affected terrain. This recent snow overlies a 3 to 5 cm thick crust below 2200 m.

90 to 140 cm down is a weak layer of faceted snow at higher elevations or surface hoar in sheltered terrain.

100 to 180 cm down is a prominent crust which may have facets above or below.

Depth hoar(large facets) can be found at the bottom of the snowpack.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Keep your guard up at all elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive and could extend into openings below treeline.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Regions covered