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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 3rd, 2025–Apr 4th, 2025

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

Regions

Purcells, Dogtooth, East Purcell, West Purcell.

Avoid travelling near or below cornices

Solar input will increase the likelihood of falling cornices, which are capable of triggering large avalanches on the slopes below

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the past 4 days explosives were used to drop cornices, some of these cornices triggered persistent slabs on the slopes below. The resulting avalanches  were up to size 3 with crowns as deep as 3 meters.

On Tuesday several remote and naturally triggered cornice failures were reported. Some of these pulled slabs on the slopes below.

Snowpack Summary

During the day on Friday the snow surface will become moist below treeline and on all sun exposed slopes. On north facing terrain at treeline and above, up to 30 cm overlies a crust from late March.

Several weak layers from early March, mid February and late January can be found in the mid and lower snowpack. These layers remain a concern where a thick crust isn’t present above.

The base of the snowpack is generally faceted.

Check out our most recent blog for more information on conditions.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Friday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Saturday

Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2300 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
  • Avoid sun-exposed slopes, especially if the snow surface is moist or wet.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.