Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Dec 20 – 21, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Up to 50 cm of recent snow and strong southwest winds continue to form wind slabs reactive to human triggers.

Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Up to 50 cm of recent snow and strong southwest winds have formed slabs that will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Triggering deeper weak layers is most likely to occur in isolated alpine areas where a supportive crust below the recent snow is not present.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, a naturally triggered size 2.5 wind slab avalanche was reported on a northeast aspect in the alpine.

On Wednesday, numerous natural and explosive triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported primarily on north and easterly aspects at treeline and above.

Snowpack Summary

30-50 cm of recent snow and strong southwest winds have formed slabs that will be most reactive in wind affected terrain. This recent snow overlies a 3 to 5 cm thick crust below 2200 m.

90 to 170 cm down is a weak layer of faceted snow at higher elevations or surface hoar in sheltered terrain.

100 to 180 cm down is a prominent crust which may have facets above or below.

Depth hoar(large facets) can be found at the bottom of the snowpack.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 0 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy with flurries. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 35 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Keep your guard up at all elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive and could extend into openings below treeline.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Regions covered