Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Friday night: A break in the storms will arrive over the Purcells. Freezing levels will fall to valley bottom. Winds will be moderate from the West.

Saturday: Cold and Dry conditions across the Purcells in the morning. A split in the weather will happen in the evening with the North half of the range seeing less snow, freezing levels at valley bottom and light to moderate Southwest winds. Meanwhile the Southern half will see freezing levels rise to 1500m with moderate to strong winds in the alpine. 10 to 20cm of new snow.

Sunday: The storm will be most intense South of the Bugaboos where the freezing level will hit 2000m and 30cm of new snow will fall with strong South west winds. The Dogtooth will see up to 20cm with moderate to strong Southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1500m.

Monday: weather will clear throughout the day and winds will move to light to Moderate from the West. Freezing levels in the North will fall to valley bottom, Freezing levels will fall to 1500m in the South.

Several size 1 natural avalanches were observed in the Dogtooth range.

New wind slabs have formed in exposed treeline and alpine features. A mid November rain crust is down 30 to 60cm and exists below 2100m.

Several early season crusts exist throughout the lower pack. A late October facet/crust layer sits at the bottom of the snowpack. it likely only exists above 1900m.

 snowpack height at treeline is around 50 to 140cm.

• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
• Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
• Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
• Use caution on large alpine slopes, especially around thin areas that may propagate to deeper instabilities.