Purcells

Warmth is the primary driver of avalanche hazard and the weather forecast calls for a steadily increasing freezing level over the next few days. Minimize your exposure to large slopes if the snowpack is becoming moist or wet.

Fair

TUESDAY: Freezing level starting at valley bottom, rising to 1800m. Light variable winds at all elevations. No significant precipitation expected. Few clouds in the morning, cloud cover increasing in the afternoon.WEDNESDAY: Freezing level starting at 1000m, rising to 2000m. Light N/NW winds at all elevations. No significant precipitation expected. Clear skies initially, cloud cover building in the afternoon.THURSDAY: Freezing level starting near 1500m, rising to around 2200m. Light W/SW winds at all elevations. Clear skies.

Several cornice falls have been reported in the last few days, some of which have triggered avalanches on slopes below. On Wednesday, a rider triggered size 2 avalanche was reported that likely started on the March PWL before it stepped down to the ground.

The recent 10 to 25cm of storm snow was shifted by variable strong winds into wind slabs on lee slopes above 2000m. These wind slabs are probably growing old and tired. Cornices are large and touchy in some spots. The new snow sits over a crust which is generally becoming more supportive. Low elevations sport an isothermal snowpack, which is now capped by a refrozen crust.Persistent weak layers in the upper snowpack remain a lingering concern, although they seem to be slowly gaining strength. In the north of the region, the mid-March crust/facet layer is down 40-60cm. The mid-February crust/facet/surface hoar layer, down about 80 cm, may also still be reactive in isolated areas. Weak layers which formed earlier in the winter are also a concern in certain spots.