Spring-time is here; begin and finish your day early while low elevation slopes remain cooler.
Localized convective flurries may bring intense bouts of stormy weather followed by strong sun the next couple of days.
New storm snow (60cm in the west, 40cm in the east) overlies a firm crust at treeline and above, with mod/strong SW winds distributing it into lee areas.
The likelihood of wet, loose avalanches increases with daytime warming, especially if it rains or the strong Spring sun hits the slopes. The heavy, wet mass of these avalanches has the potential to trigger deep persistent wet slabs.
A mix of sun and cloud the next couple days, with convective cells delivering localized intense flurries.
Tonight: Flurries, trace to 5cm, Alp low -9*C, FZL 800m, mod/strong SW winds
Tues: Mainly cloudy with flurries, trace to 5cm, Alp high -9*C, FZL 1300m, mod/strong W winds
Wed: Sun and cloud, Alp high -6*C, FZL 1200m, light W winds
45-65cm of storm snow at Treeline and above (drainage dependant due to convection) has buried a variety of surfaces including wind slabs, solar crusts to mountain top, and a melt/freeze crust to 2200m. Northerly slopes in the Alpine hold cold, wintery snow. The December 1st crust is down 1.5-2m. Late season cornices are LARGE!
Artillery control on Monday produced large slab avalanches, up to sz 3-3.5, on N aspects of Macdonald and Smart. S'ly aspects were not as reactive to explosives.
Natural avalanche activity increased late Monday morning/afternoon when the SW winds finally arrived, along with brief, intense bursts of snow then sunshine.
