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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 16th, 2024–Feb 17th, 2024

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

Regions

Purcells, Dogtooth, East Purcell.

Tracks on a slope do not mean it is safe.

Deep persistent slabs are a low-probability, high-consequence avalanche problem that are best managed by choosing to ride conservative terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday numerous small (size 1) skier-triggered and natural wind slabs have been reported on all aspects and at alpine elevations.

On Wednesday near Panorama mostly small (size 1) dry loose avalanches have been observed in very steep terrain, In the alpine ski cutting produced small (size 1) windslabs on steep unsupported terrain features.

On Tuesday a few dry loose avalanches were reported out of steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Past new snow buried various layers of soft snow, wind-affected, and sun crusts. A crust from early February is now down 15 to 20 cm. This crust is generally supportive but tapers in the alpine and may be unsupportive to riders.

Consistent north winds in the alpine has been transporting available snow and building small wind slabs on lee features.

The midpack is generally faceted and the lower snowpack contains weak faceted grains, depth hoar, and crusts that continue to produce sporadic large avalanches.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

Saturday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10°C.

Sunday

Clear skies and sunny. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Monday

Cloudy. 5 to 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Problems

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.

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.