Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Purcells.
Confidence
High
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: A mix on sun and cloud with isolated light flurries possible. Freezing levels dropping to 1200m and light southwesterly winds. SATURDAY: A mix of sun and cloud but mainly dry. Freezing levels dropping to 1000m and light northwesterly winds. SUNDAY: A mix of sun and cloud and mainly dry with freezing levels dropping below valley bottoms and light northwesterly winds.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Wednesday include several natural wind slab avalanches up to Size 2 predominately on north through east aspects and on cross-loaded features in steep aline terrain. On Thursday, explosives control produced relatively harmless loose wet and storm slab avalanches as well as 30-50cm deep persistent slab avalanches up to Size 1.5 running on surface hoar buried early January.
Snowpack Summary
Most areas are reporting 10-25 cm deep fresh wind slabs that were loaded from moderate to strong southwest winds. Weakness linger within and under the 30-60cm of recent storm snow with reports of moderate sudden results in snowpack tests. The persistent weak layer of surface hoar buried early-January is now typically down 40-70 cm and appears to be quite touchy in some parts of the region. In general, the lower snowpack is well settled and strong.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 5