Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Jan 24 – 25, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Wind slabs below and above tree line are now quite touchy, use caution traveling through this elevation band.A Special Public Avalanche Warning is in effect for this region.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–5
    A small avalanche could provide enough mass and force to trigger this deeper instability

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Touchy winds slabs exist above and below tree line, an could easily be triggered by a sledder or skier.

Confidence

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

Weather Forecast

The southern interior will be under the influence of a weak high pressure system for the forecast period. Partly cloudy skies with some sunny periods and freezing levels at valley bottom overnight, then rising to around 1000 metres during the day. The next Pacific frontal system will move into the area late Thursday afternoon with freezing level forecast to rise above 2000 metres.

Avalanche Summary

Reports continue to advise of natural, skier remote, skier controlled and explosive result avalanches up to size 3. Many of these failed on a crust/facet interface 30 to 50 cm from the surface . Moderate to winds, new snow and rising temperatures increase the  likelihood of avalanches. Human triggering remains a real possibility through the forecast period.

Snowpack Summary

Conditions are widely variable across the Purcells. Wind slabs and storm slabs have developed at treeline and alpine elevations. In some areas, these overlie a surface hoar or crust/facet interface from early January and may be easily triggered by a skier or sledder. Reports indicate this persistent weak layer is now 40 to 80cm down in some areas and appears to be quite touchy in some parts of the region. A more deeply buried layer of surface hoar from December is now considered dormant. In general, the lower snowpack is well settled and strong.

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