Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 26th, 2019–Apr 27th, 2019

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

Regions

Purcells.

Last Avalanche Forecast for the season. For additional information check out our Spring Conditions page at: https://goo.gl/cpx8Dq

New snow and moderate winds from a variety of directions may form touchy wind slabs reactive to human triggers.

Confidence

Low - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Snow in northern part of the region; 5-10 cm. / Moderate, westerly winds / Alpine low -6 C / Freezing level 1400 m.

SATURDAY: Snow (more in the north); 5-15 cm. / Light, westerly winds / Alpine high -5 C / Freezing level 1500 m.

SUNDAY: Sunny / Moderate, northeasterly winds / Alpine high -4 C / Freezing level 1600 m.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, westerly winds / Alpine high -4 C / Freezing level 1600 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, several naturally triggered size 2 wind slabs were reported on a variety of aspects in the alpine. There are currently very few professional observers submitting daily observations. Please submit your observations to the MIN. Photos of avalanches or current conditions are particularly useful.

Snowpack Summary

A supportive surface crust caps a mostly isothermal snowpack at lower elevations. In the alpine, the recent snow is likely settling and preserved as cold, wintery, snow on north aspects where reactive wind slabs may still linger. A crust is present on all solar alpine aspects to mountain tops and below 2200 m on all aspects. The strength of the crust will depend on overnight freeze and the speed at which the snowpack warms up during the day.

Weak and sugary faceted grains may remain at the bottom of the snowpack in the alpine, producing a low likelihood but high consequence scenario. Steep, rocky areas with a shallow or highly variable snowpack depth are the most likely places to trigger this layer.

Below treeline, snow is disappearing rapidly.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.