Watch for the formation of thin wind slabs up high Saturday afternoon. Even with overcast skies tomorrow, wet avalanches become more likely on south facing slopes as temperatures warm in the afternoon.
Warmer temperatures may soften the surface crust and weaken the upper snowpack.
Pay close attention to how thick and supportive the surface crust is throughout the day. Minimize your exposure to slopes with wet and heavy snow.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Freezing level around 1000 m, trace to 5 cm of snow possible, light southwest wind.
SATURDAY: Overcast with some clearing in the early evening, 1 to 5 cm of snow possible throughout the day, light west/northwest wind, freezing level around 1500 m.
SUNDAY: Broken cloud cover at dawn building to overcast by lunch, a few cm of snow possible, moderate south/southwest wind, freezing level around 1500 m. 5 to 10 cm expected Sunday night.
MONDAY: Overcast, 10 to 20 cm of snow possible, strong southwest wind, freezing level around 1500 m.
Aside from a bit of minor pinwheeling, no new avalanches reported in the last 72 hours.
On Tuesday, natural avalanche activity was observed on all aspects to size 3. A size 2 wet slab avalanche was rider triggered on a south facing treeline slope, failing on the crust buried in early March.
Small pockets of wind slab may sit on north and east facing slopes at higher elevations. The upper snowpack is going through a daily melt-freeze cycle. A crust exists on all aspects to around 2500 m. Warm temperatures and sun may soften or break down the crust during the day and create moist snow. At very low elevations, the snowpack may be wet and isothermal, depending on overnight freezing levels.
At 40 to 70 cm below the snow surface a sun crust exists on solar aspects, and weak surface hoar crystals sit on shaded aspects from early March. Reports suggest this layer is bonding well. The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well settled.
