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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 8th, 2024–Feb 9th, 2024

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

Regions

Purcells, Dogtooth, East Purcell.

The deep persistent slab problem remains a concern in terrain where the crust tapers. Human-triggered avalanches are possible. Exercise diligence and use good travel habits.

Confidence

No Rating

Avalanche Summary

A size 2 deep persistent slab avalanche was explosive triggered in the north of the region. The failure plane was a reloaded bed surface.

In the South of the region, explosives triggered a size 2.5 wind slab.

Snowpack Summary

A few centimeters of new snow will bury various surfaces of soft snow, wind-affected, and sun crusts. This further buried a crust, now down 15 to 20 cm that tapers in the alpine and may be unsupportive to riders.

The upper midpack remains moist above a generally faceted snowpack. The lower snowpack contains weak faceted grains, depth hoar, and crusts that continue to be monitored for reactivity.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries with 2 to 3 cm accumulation. Alpine wind west 5 to 10 km/h. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy, isolated flurries with trace accumulation. Alpine wind north 10 to 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny breaks. Alpine wind southeast 10 to 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy isolated flurries with trace accumulation. Alpine wind south 10 to 15 km/h. Treeline temperatures -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.