Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Feb 17 – 18, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

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.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Likely to find newly formed wind slabs in the alpine, just below ridgetop features.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2.5–3.5

    A weak layer near the base of the snowpack is a concern where a crust buried 10 to 20 cm is not supportive. Generally at higher elevations in the alpine and steep, rocky, open features at treeline is where triggering this layer is possible.

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.

Regions covered