Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Jan 22 – 23, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

A Special Public Avalanche Warning is in effect for this region.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–5
    A slab has formed above a touchy buried weakness. This could be triggered by the weight of a person, even from a distance. Avalanches could be larger than expected.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    The recent storm has created storm slabs on a variety of slopes. Touchy wind slabs also exist on slopes lee to recent southerly winds.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

A last pulse of 5-10 cm snow with easing SW winds and a 1000 m freezing level is expected on Saturday ahead of a cooling and drying trend starting Sunday morning. Cloudy skies, light winds, cool temperatures and a few flurries may give way to sunny skies on Sunday/Monday. For more details check out https://avalanche.ca/weather.

Avalanche Summary

Several size 1-2 wind slabs and storm slabs have been triggered naturally and by skiers and explosives this week. Some of these failed on a persistent weak layer of surface hoar or a crust/facet interface. Winds, new snow and rising temperatures increased the size and likelihood of avalanches on Friday. Human triggering remains a real possibility through the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Conditions are variable across the Purcells. Wind slabs and storm slabs have developed at treeline and alpine elevations. In some areas, these overlie a surface hoar or crust/facet interface from early January and may be extra touchy. This persistent weak layer is around 30-60 cm down and may be just reaching tipping point in parts of the region. A more deeply buried layer of surface hoar from December is now considered dormant. In general, the mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.

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