Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 24th, 2022–Mar 25th, 2022

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.

Avalanche danger is decreasing, but the potential for human triggered avalanches remains. Pay attention to how the weather is changing the snowpack through the day, as it could have an effect on travel and avalanche conditions.

Confidence

High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. No new rain/snow expected. Light variable winds, with some periods of strong northwest in the high alpine. Freezing level falling to around valley bottom. 

FRIDAY: Partly cloudy with a drizzle of rain. Light southwest ridgetop winds, trending to moderate west in the high alpine. Freezing level rising to 2000 m through the day.

SATURDAY: Partly cloudy. Possible light rain/snow. Light southwest ridgetop wind trending to strong in the high alpine. Freezing level around valley bottom overnight, rising to 2200 m through the day.

SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. Possible light rain/snow. Light southwest ridgetop wind trending to strong in the high alpine. Freezing level rising as high as 2500 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, several loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported on slopes getting cooked by the sun. 

On Tuesday, and Wednesday widespread loose wet avalanches were reported due to warm temperatures and/or sunshine (mostly size 1-2, a couple size 2.5 or 3). East of Kaslo, a naturally triggered size 2.5 windslab was reported on a north aspect in the alpine. 

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of new snow and possibly thin windslabs in the alpine. Refrozen crust on all aspects up to 2200 m, softening in the afternoon at low elevations, and on steep, sunny slopes. Recent warm temperatures, sun, and rain have made the top 5-15 cm of the snowpack moist.

30 to 75 cm below the snow surface, you'll find a frozen sun crust on solar aspects. This layer was buried in early March, and it was a cause of several avalanches last week, but the recent warm weather seems to have helped this layer heal. 

The lower snowpack is generally strong and well bonded.

Terrain and Travel

  • If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, it is raining, or solar radiation is strong.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.