Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Dec 16 – 17, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–5
    Wind slabs are expected to continue to develop due to forecast new snow and strong Southwest winds.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Buried surface hoar layers continue to give results in snow pit tests. This layer may be triggered from thin weak spots on or adjacent to unsupported terrain features.

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Monday: A Low pressure system moving along the U.S. border will push some precipitation up into the region. Expect 5-10 mm of precipitation falling as snow at all elevations by Monday morning. Strong SW winds during the storm should become strong NW winds after it passes to the East. Alpine Temperatures should be -7.0 during the day.Tuesday: Dry and cool with Alpine temperatures down to about -13.0 combined with strong NW winds.Wednesday:Continued dry and cool, temperatures dropping down to -16.0 in the Alpine. The next Pacific system is forecast to move in from the coast during the evening.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

Thin windslabs have developed in the alpine and at treeline in exposed terrain. Some loose snow sluffing may be experienced in steep terrain. Snow pit test results continue to show weak layers of surface hoar that were buried during mid and late November, however we have not seen any activity on these layers recently. The early season rain crust is another layer that continues to show results in tests, but has not been active. Forecast new snow and strong SW winds are expected to continue to develop wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline.

Regions covered