Purcells

Good

This region should stay dry, or else receive very light flurries.Tuesday: Dry. An above freezing layer (inversion) is expected from around 2200-2800m with alpine temperatures reaching around 2C. Ridgetop winds westerly 20-30 km/h.Wednesday: Dry or very light flurries. Light NW'ly winds. Alpine temperatures around -4C.Thursday: Should stay dry. Ridgetop winds light NW'ly. Alpine temperatures around -6C.

On Friday explosives avalanche control produced at least 3 size 3 slab avalanches which failed to ground in steeper alpine terrain. 2 size 3, and 1 size 3.5 natural slab avalanches were also noted. At least 2 of these failed at ground level. All avalanches observed failed on a variety of aspects.On Saturday explosives avalanche control in the Northwest of the region produced a few windslab avalanches to size 1.5 at treeline and in the alpine. No avalanches were reported on Sunday.

Between 60cm and 90cm of well settled storm snow exists as a stubborn hard wind slab in many exposed areas. Thanks to recent warming, steep, sun exposed slopes have seen a daily melt-freeze cycle while surface hoar has been growing in some shaded terrain. Below the recently formed storm slab you may find surface hoar buried around January 8th, although no recent avalanche reports have been attributed to this layer. In the mid to lower pack you may find a surface hoar layer buried in mid December. Further down you may also find the December facet/crust combo. These layers are likely gaining strength, but professional operators are treating them with caution.The biggest concern throughout the region is a layer of weak sugary depth hoar at the base of the snowpack which may coexist with a crust which formed in October. I would continue to be suspicious of any large or unsupported upper elevation slopes, especially if they haven't already avalanched. Possible triggers include a heavy load over a thin spot, a cornice fall or rapid temperature change. Any avalanche failing at this interface would be highly destructive.