Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Jan 12 – 13, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain. If you receive less then 15 cm of new snow consider the danger ratings too high.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–4

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Building storm slabs sit on a variety of weak layers making avalanche conditions touchy.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

The next Pacific frontal system will reach the Interior tonight spreading moderate precipitation amounts through Wednesday. Average snow amounts range from 15-25 cm by Wednesday afternoon. Ridgetop winds will be moderate-strong from the SW, alpine temperatures -7 and dropping. A split flow in the jet stream will guide subsequent Pacific storms south of B.C. bringing mostly dry and unsettled weather Thursday and Friday. The next storm will move onshore sometime Saturday.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, reports indicated mostly sluffing up to size 1 from steeper terrain features.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm of recent low density snow overlies a variety of weak surfaces including surface hoar and facets. Storm and wind slabs are expected to build with forecast snow on Wednesday. The upper snowpack is generally loose and unconsolidated due to the current lack of slab properties, however there is now up to 30 cm sitting on a mix of surface hoar, facets, and sun crusts that were buried January 4th. In parts of the Purcells, two prominent layers of buried surface hoar continue to be reactive with hard sudden collapse results in snowpack tests down 30-60 cm. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.

Regions covered