Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Mar 26 – 27, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 2 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions continue, with large, destructive natural avalanches remaining possible.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Several buried weak layers exist throughout the snowpack. These layers will remain active as temperatures and freezing levels remain elevated.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2.5–4

    There is evidence that weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack are starting to wake up. Avalanches on these layers will be large, destructive and may run full path.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural, persistent, and deep persistent slab avalanche activity on Wednesday. Wet loose and wet slab activity was widespread throughout the region.

Snowpack Summary

A mix of 5 to 7 cm snow, moist surfaces, and thin, breakable crusts, depending on freezing levels and timing of incoming cooler temperatures and precipitation. Below lies a complex snowpack with several weak layers:

  • An interface from early March, 30 to 50 cm deep, consists of a crust on sunny slopes and lower elevations, and surface hoar or facets in sheltered, shaded upper elevations.

  • Persistent weak layers from February and January, including crusts, facets, and surface hoar, are buried 50 to 100 cm deep and remain a concern.

  • The bottom of the snowpack is composed of large facets, which are showing signs of becoming reactive again, with some very large avalanches recently failing on this layer.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy, 5 to 7 cm snow, 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy, mixed rain and snow, 3 to 5 cm. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries, 4 to 6 cm. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 to 2000 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy, scattered flurries 3 to 5 cm. 10 to 15 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.

Regions covered