A natural avalanche cycle is underway.
Rising temps, combined with steady snowfall and increasing winds, are elevating the avalanche hazard.
In steep sheltered terrain, human-triggered sluffs are running within the storm snow, gathering mass as they accelerate down slope. At lower elevations, loose moist "schmooey" avalanches are easily started on all unsupported slopes.
Storm slabs are growing with mild temps, steady flurries, and mod SW winds. Be wary of convex rolls, ridge crests, and open cross-loaded slopes where it may be easier to trigger the storm slab.
Steady flurries, rising temps, gusty strong winds from the SW
Tonight: Cloudy with flurries, 5cm, Alp high -5*C, light/mod SW wind
Tues: Snow, 15cm, Alp high -4*C, FZL 1500m, mod/gusting strong SW winds
Wed: Cloudy with flurries, 5cm, Alp high -7*C, FZL 1300m, light SW winds
Thurs: Cloudy, isolated flurries, Alp high -5*C, FZL 1400m, light SW winds
The storm snow is adding up, with ~45cm on the March 11 crust (up to 1500m on all aspects, up to treeline on solar aspects). The March 7 (surface hoar/crust) is down ~55cm, the Feb 26 (surface hoar/crust) is down ~75cm, and the Feb 15 surface hoar is down 90-130cm and decomposing. Mild temps are promoting low elevation storm slab development.
Natural avalanche activity is picking up Monday afternoon, with numerous avalanches to sz 3 detected on Macdonald, Tupper, Cheops, Frequent Flyer, etc.
A field team on Cougar Creek East was able to easily ski cut the top 35-40cm soft slabs on wind-affected rolls. Loose, moist avalanches to sz 1 were easy to initiate on rolls below 1600m.
