Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Regions
Purcells.
Continued unsettled weather for the region. However there is now significant snow forecast within the period.
Confidence
Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, wind light southeast, alpine temperature -8SUNDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, wind light south, alpine temperature -10MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, wind light west, alpine temperature -9More details can be found on the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Avalanche Summary
Recent reports indicate some explosives triggered avalanches to size 2 in the alpine on west and north aspects over the last few days.
Snowpack Summary
10-30 cm of recent new snow accumulation, wind and warming have built wind slabs on wind-loaded features. In sheltered areas, the new snow has possibly buried a layer of feathery surface hoar. The main concern deeper in the snowpack is a layer of sugary facets from mid-December that can be found between 50 and 100 cm deep. This layer was considered dormant during the the previous cold weather, but may still become reactive with the recent warm temperatures.
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.