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