Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Jan 18 – 19, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Recent new snow and moderate southwest winds switching to northeast will build fresh slabs at higher elevations on a variety of aspects.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Recent new snow is being redistributed in to lee terrain. Wind slabs may be more reactive where they sit on a weak layer of facets.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    The lower snowpack is characterized by facets and depth hoar near the base of the snowpack in most alpine areas. The likelihood of triggering a deep persistent slab is low, however the consequence of doing so is high.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday and Tuesday, natural and explosives triggered wind slab and loose dry avalanches were reported to size 1 and 1.5.

If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

There is 5-10 cm of new snow sitting over faceted surfaces in many areas. In exposed terrain at treeline and above this new snow is now obscuring old wind slabs.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally weak with several layers of note. Of greatest concern are weak facets and/or depth hoar located at the bottom of the snowpack, particularly in alpine terrain.

Snowpack depths at treeline range from 70 to 160 cm.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with scattered flurries, 1-3 cm of snow, northeast alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -19 °C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with no new precipitation, northeast alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -16 °C.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -15 °C.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -11 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

Regions covered