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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 4th, 2022–Apr 5th, 2022

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

Regions

Purcells.

Carefully assess the wind slab hazard as you gain elevation. Rider triggerable wind slab exists in exposed terrain.

Confidence

Moderate - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow with moderate southwest winds. Low of -7 at 2000 m.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow and light to moderate west winds. Freezing level around 1700 m.

Wednesday: Sunny with no new snow expected. Light west winds and freezing levels around 1900 m.

Thursday: Sunny with no new snow expected. Moderate southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 2500 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday ski cutting produced size one wind slab avalanches in steep terrain. Several size one natural dry loose avalanches were also observed in steep unskiable terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs exist in exposed terrain in the treeline and alpine on northerly aspects. A crust exists on or near the surface on all aspects as high as 2500 m. This crust will become moist at lower elevations as the freezing level rises. Multiple crusts exist on solar aspects.

Cornices have been observed throughout the region. Best practice is to limit time traveling on slopes below these hazards.

A thick rain crust with facets above from early December is buried around 150 cm deep. Large avalanches were naturally triggered on this layer during the most recent warm temperatures in western terrain near the Bugaboos. Continued avalanche activity on this layer is unlikely with cooler temperatures forecast. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

Problems

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.