Purcells

New snow and wind have combined to increase avalanche danger in the mountains. Make conservative terrain choices and post your observations to the MIN.

-

A cooling pattern will develop in the Purcells overnight on Sunday with freezing levels dropping to valley bottom. Winds will remain light and shift to the northwest on Monday. A chance of light flurries is forecasted for Monday with skies clearing overnight and remaining clear on Tuesday.

A lack of field observations is concealing what is expected to be touchy avalanche conditions in the region, especially in the North Purcells. New snowfall and wind has increased concerns for touchy slabs and cornices forming at higher elevations and in exposed terrain.

Up to 40cm of new snow now has seen significant wind effect and has contributed to the touchy cornices and wind slabs forming at treeline and above. The storm snow since Nov 13 has accumulated to 60+cm and has settled into a cohesive slab over the hard November 13 crust. 6mm surface hoar has been observed 10cm below this crust on north aspects at higher elevations and has yielded easy to moderate snowpack test results. Total snowpack depth has exceeded one metre in the North Purcells. The snowpack below treeline is creeping toward threshold for avalanches, but early season hazards such as hidden rocks, stumps, and open creeks remain the primary hazard here.