Wind is the word of the day, with ridgetop winds forecast to reach 100km/h on Tuesday forming new slabs up high.
20cm of recent snow will continue to form slabs in the alpine and treeline with 100km/h winds on Tuesday. Pay particular attention to slopes above you if the clouds part- the March sun is packing a punch!
Cornices are large in the park, and present the additional hazard of potentially triggering deep persistent weak layers. Give them a wider berth than you think, whether you are considering travelling on the ridge above or slope below.
Be mindful of overhead hazard if the sun makes an appearance, especially in steep rocky terrain.
Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Temperatures and west winds increasing through the day up to 110km/h at ridgetop and a high of -6.
Wednesday: Sun and cloud with flurries and a cooling trend through the day with moderate NW winds.
Thursday: Increasing cloudiness through the day with flurries, winds becoming calm in the evening.
Surface snow is moist on solar aspects during the heat of the day. 20cm settling storm snow is being blown into windslabs by moderate SW winds, with windward ridgetops in the alpine stripped to rock. This sits on previous windslabs and crusts. The midpack is strong, though weaker basal facets still lurk in thin areas.
Cornices are large and looming.
Surrounding areas have reported small loose dry and storm slab (especially in the alpine) avalanches in the new snow failing naturally in steep areas and with skier traffic.
