Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 6th, 2017 4:07PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Wet and Wind Slabs.

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Purcells.

Seek the shade for the best riding and least sun-baked snow.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY: Sunny with valley cloud. Light wind. Freezing level near 3200 m with a colder air layer in the valleys.FRIDAY: Sunny with valley cloud. Light wind. Freezing level near 3000 m with a colder air layer in the valleys.SATURDAY: Sunny with valley cloud. Light wind. Freezing level near 2800 m with a colder air layer in the valleys.More details can be found on the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Limited reports from the region over the past few days show a diminishing pattern of touchy wind slabs around alpine ridges. On Tuesday, a size 1.5 wind slab was triggered by a skier on a south-facing slope at 2600 m in the Invermere area. Multiple reactive wind slabs were reported last weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Recently formed wind slabs are gaining strength, but can still be found in the lee of ridges and terrain breaks. Intense warming will melt and weaken upper snowpack layers, particularly on steep sunny slopes. Warming also has the potential to wake up more deeply buried crust layers. Below treeline, the snowpack is shallow--look out for early season hazards like open creeks and tree stumps.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose wet avalanches are likely in steep, rocky, sunny terrain. Warming could also wake up more deeply buried weak layers.

Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.Choose well supported terrain without convexities.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs may be lurking behind ridges and ribs and could be triggered by the weight of a rider.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 7th, 2017 2:00PM