Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Jan 16 – 17, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 9 months ago

Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Use caution in areas that don't have a crust.

It's uncertain if a buried weak layer is still a concern. Be sure to localize your observations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–2

    High alpine terrain without a crust on the surface may have lingering wind slabs.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    A layer of surface hoar is buried around 50 to 100 cm deep. It's uncertain if this layer is still active. As temperatures drop, the likelihood of triggering this problem will decrease.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.
  • Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, avalanche control produced several large (size 2.5) wet slabs near Kootenay pass.

On Monday and Tuesday, there was a natural avalanche cycle. Producing many large (size 2-3.5) avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

A crust extends up to around treeline. It may not be present on north facing slopes or in the alpine where there is dry snow.

A surface hoar layer currently buried 50 to 100 cm has been the failure layer in many recent avalanches. On south-facing slopes, this layer is a sun crust.

The remaining snowpack is generally well-bonded, with multiple crust layers present.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night
Mostly clear skies. 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Friday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Saturday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Above freezing layer (AFL) at treeline and in the alpine.

Sunday
Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Sunday

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More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Regions covered