Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Mar 21 – 22, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    5 to 15 cm of recent snow and southwest wind have formed small wind slabs on lee aspects at treeline and above.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Triggering buried weak layers is most likely in wind-affected terrain on northerly and easterly aspects. Small avalanches in motion may trigger these deeper layers creating very large and destructive avalanches.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Expect strong solar radiation to trigger small wet loose avalanches and increase the likelihood of triggering slabs.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, several naturally triggered size 2 persistent slabs were reported on northerly and east aspects in the alpine.

Additionally a sledder remotely triggered two size 1.5 storm slabs from 60 m. away. They occurred on a easterly aspect in a alpine bowl feature at treeline.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 15 cm of recent snow and southwest wind have formed small wind slabs on lee aspects at treeline and above.

30 - 50 cm of snow overlies a crust on sunny slopes and lower elevations, and surface hoar or facets on sheltered and shady upper elevations.

Several persistent weak layers consisting of a crust, facets, and/or surface hoar from February and January remain a concern. They are down 50 to 100 cm in most areas.

The bottom of the snowpack is composed of large facets in most areas. There is evidence that this layer is becoming reactive again, and some very large avalanches have failed on this layer recently.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Partly cloudy with 0 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h west winds. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Monday

Moslty sunny. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level rapidly rising to 2100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.

Regions covered