Avalanche forecast

Purcells

Jan 1 – 2, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Temperatures are expected to remain below zero in the Alpine (around -3.0), but may get a bit warmer when combined with solar warming. If the sun is out and it feels warm, watch for loose moist snow falling out of cliffs and steep terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Watch for newly formed and buried windslabs in the lee of terrain features and on cross-loaded features. Forecast warm air at higher elevations may help windslabs to bond to the old surface.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Cornices may fall off naturally during periods of warm air at higher elevations combined with solar warming.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Wednesday

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Wednesday: An upper ridge of High pressure continues to dominate the interior regions. Large valleys should expect cloud with mostly clear skies above. Alpine temperatures are forecast to be warmer than the valleys, but should still be about -3.0. Light winds and no precipitation for the forecast period.Thursday: Mostly clear with light winds and freezing levels down to the valley bottoms. Cooler in the alpine as the warm air moves to the Southeast.Friday: Becoming cloudy during the day with moderate westerly winds as a weak upper disturbance slides into the region.

Avalanche Summary

Explosives control released cornices on North aspects in the alpine. Cornices that fell onto slopes below did not release slabs.

Snowpack Summary

There is a mix of new surface hoar layers and thin light snowfalls that have buried these layers. Some wind slabs have developed as the recent snow has been transported into the lee of terrain features at higher elevations. The mid layers of the snowpack have settled and are generally reported to be strong. Weak layers that were developed in November continue to show results in tests, but have not been reactive. Thin snowpack areas are the most likely place for deeper layers to be reactive to the additional load of a skier or rider.

Regions covered