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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2025–Apr 12th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Purcells, Dogtooth, East Purcell, West Purcell.

If a thick surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.Buried weak layers continue to produce large avalanches that may run to valley bottom.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, there were a a few large cornice failures (size 2) during the warm temperatures. Also, a large natural wind slab size 2.5 on a northwest aspect in the alpine.

A recent large persistent slab (size 2.5) seen near Panorama is suspected to have occurred early in the week. From a northeast aspect in the alpine.

Persistent slab avalanches have been occurring on northerly slopes in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

Around 10 to 30 cm of snow this week, with the most on the west side of the region. Low elevation areas and slopes that face the sun are expected to have a thick crust. Shaded slopes in the alpine are unlikely to have a crust, and could be wind loaded.

Several weak layers can be found in the mid and lower snowpack. These layers remain a concern where there is no thick crust above them.

The base of the snowpack is generally faceted.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Partly cloudy. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Sunday

Mostly sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Monday

Sunny. 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.

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.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.