Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 2nd, 2019 5:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada dsaly, Avalanche Canada

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Higher snowfall amounts are forecasted for the northern parts of the Purcell region and tapers moving south. Expect to find more reactive deposits where new snow accumulates and is impacted by wind.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Flurries, up to 10 cm by Tuesday morning. Alpine temperature -8 C, west wind 20-30 km/hr.

Tuesday: Snow and flurries, 5-15 cm. Through this storm, the northern areas of the Purcell forecast region are expected to receive the higher forecasted snowfall amounts. Alpine temperature -4 C, southwest wind 30-45 km/hr.

Wednesday: Flurries, 5-10 cm. Alpine temperature -8 C, west wind 30-50 km/hr.

Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud and isolated flurries. Alpine temperature -10 C, west wind 10-25 km/hr.

Avalanche Summary

Expect avalanche activity to increase in areas with larger deposits of new snow and where wind redistributes snow.

Snowpack Summary

A dusting of new snow gently covered 15-40 cm wind-affected snow in the alpine, with snowfall expected through Tuesday.

The upper snowpack sits on a crust on solar aspects in the alpine and a surface hoar/crust combination in sheltered areas around treeline. Further down, several early season crusts are found in a highly variable snowpack across the region. Snowpack depth ranges from 10-100cm and recent cold temperatures have faceted the snowpack. Expect to find weak facets (sugary, cohesion-less snow) in thin, shallow areas and around rocks.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Up to 20 cm new snow is forecasted to accumulate by the end of Tuesday, with the larger snowfall amounts focused to the north of the Purcell region. Expect to find more reactive deposits of new snow in areas with higher snowfall amounts and where wind redistributes new snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 3rd, 2019 5:00PM

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