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

Apr 24th, 2025–Apr 25th, 2025

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

Regions

Purcells, Dogtooth, East Purcell, West Purcell.

Start your day early and watch the crust closely.

As it breaks down, reduce your exposure to avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, there were a few small wet loose avalanches from slopes facing the sun.

Observations are very limited at this time of year.

Snowpack Summary

A crust is likely on the surface everywhere except northerly aspects in the alpine where around 15 cm of recent soft snow may still be preserved.

While weak layers lower in the snowpack have been a concern throughout the season, the current lack of avalanche activity and benign weather suggest they are not a concern at this time. They could become problematic again this spring as the temperature rises.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and clouds. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and clouds. 5 to 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.

Sunday

Mix of sun and clouds. 5 to 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
  • Avalanche danger will increase as the surface crust breaks down.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.