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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 6th, 2024–Feb 7th, 2024

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

Regions

Purcells, Dogtooth, East Purcell, West Purcell, Bull.

The cooler weather has helped to stabilize the snowpack, however we continue to be wary of deeply buried weak layers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few dry loose in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 10 cm of accumulated new snow over a crust that tapers in thickness at higher elevations.

Below the fresh snow and mentioned crust, there is around 50 cm of moist snow with multiple crust and facet layers beneath. The base contains weak faceted grains and depth hoar, which will continue to be monitored for reactivity.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 3 to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine wind southwest 5 to 10 km/h. Treeline temperatures -4 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks. Alpine wind 5 to 10 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks, with isolated flurries with trace accumulation. Alpine wind variable 10 to 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny breaks with isolated flurries and trace accumulation. Alpine wind variable 10 to 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.