Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Jan 25 – 26, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Anticipated warming could potentially wake up lower weak layers resulting in the potential for large human-triggered avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Wind slabs should be treated with caution in exposed areas, particularly as triggering something on the surface could step down to the deep persistent layer below.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3.5
    Large destructive avalanches have consistently been triggered on deeply buried weak layers. This problem will exist for a while to come and is tricky to manage. Likely trigger points are shallow snowpack areas, such as near ridges and rocky terrain.

Avalanche Summary

One skier-triggered avalanche was reported on Wednesday in storm snow at approximately 2000 m that released 40 cm below the surface. On Thursday, explosive control work released another slide on the deep persistent layer at the base of the snowpack. There is a MIN report from last Saturday that shows a natural avalanche (size 3.5) in International Basin, also on the deep persistent layer. Check out the MIN here. Dealing with the deep persistent basal facet/crust problem requires avoiding terrain where this kind of avalanche is possible.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of recent snow has buried large surface hoar crystals which, on southern aspects, may rest on a sun crust. In most places, there is still insufficient snow over this layer and the upper snow too unconsolidated to create a widespread problem. However, locally, in deeper snowpack areas, or where the wind has blown snow above this layer, avalanches large enough to be of concern could be triggered. The snowpack also has a significant weekness at depth. The base of the snowpack is composed of weak faceted grains and a crust in many parts of the region. There have been sporadic reports of people triggering this layer in areas where the snowpack is shallow. The most likely trigger points include ridgelines and large open slopes and bowls at upper elevations, particularly those that have rocky or variable (thin to thick) features. If you trigger a deep persistent slab it will go big and be a highly destructive avalanche.

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Lt Dragon (2380m):Nil; TPres -4, rising rapidly; TMin -10; winds L NWToby Ck (1130m):1cm; TPres -1 rising rapidly; TMin -13KHMR Dogtooth (2060m):Nil; TPres -7, rising slowly; TMin -10KHMR Top (2325m):Winds 20-40 W

Regions covered