Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Apr 18 – 19, 2013Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

If you have any snowpack or avalanche observations, feel free to send them to [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Wind slabs exist on a variety of aspects at treeline and above. Cornices have grown very large, so be aware of overhead hazards and stay back on ridgelines.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–6
    A weak interface buried in the upper metre of the snowpack can create surprisingly large avalanches. It's been reactive in nearby regions, and remains a concern with professionals. Be cautious in steep, alpine terrain.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Initially, the approaching frontal system will spread light-moderate precipitation amounts with rising freezing levels. Towards the end of the forecast period a cooling, drying trend will take place before the big warm-up next week.Friday: Overcast with light precipitation amounts. Ridgetop winds will blow moderate from the SW and freezing levels will rise to 2000 m.Saturday: Overcast with moderate precipitation amounts. Ridgetop winds will blow moderate from the NW and freezing levels near 1500 m then falling to valley bottom overnight.Sunday: Mostly sunny skies with a cooling, drying trend. Freezing levels will rise to 1000 m by the afternoon.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, no new avalanche activity was reported.On Tuesday, In the adjacent region a size 2 slab avalanche was skier triggered on a NW aspect at 2500 m. The hard slab failed approximately 3 m above the skier. There were no injuries. Additionally, skiers triggered a size 3 slab on a buried crust on an east aspect in the alpine on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Over the past 2 days, melt-freeze crusts have formed on solar aspects. North aspects remain dry, with new surface hoar development and surface faceting. Recent storm snow and variable winds have formed wind slabs at treeline and above. Cornices on ridgelines have grown large, and pose a threat to slopes below.A weak interface buried early April is down about 60-120 cm and consists of a crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar on high-elevation northerly aspects. The slab above this interface may be reaching it's tipping point with additional loading from forecast snow and wind.

Regions covered