A high freezing level will destabilize the snowpack, potentially triggering numerous different avalanche problems. Check out the latest Forecasters' Blog for more information.
Cornices are large at this time of year and will become more prone to fail as they warm up with spring weather. Stay well back from them when on ridgelines and limit your exposure when travelling on slopes below them, as their release is unpredictable. Cornice falls could trigger very large slab avalanches on slopes below.
Wet loose avalanche activity is expected with daytime warming, rain, and any brief sunny period. Limit your exposure to steep terrain when it is raining or if the snow feels sloppy.
Wet slabs are also possible, particularly where the recent storm overlies a hard melt-freeze crust.
Weak layers may be found in the middle and near the base of the snowpack, which are likely to reawaken with the variety of weather we receive during the spring. Small avalanches and cornice falls have the potential to trigger these deeper layers. Human triggered avalanches are most likely in steep, shallow, and rocky terrain where the snowpack is relatively thin.
We haven't received any recent avalanche observations.
We expect a strong uptick of avalanches on Saturday as the freezing level is above mountain tops. Expect to see loose wet or slab avalanches, cornice falls, lingering wind or storm slabs, and potentially large avalanches releasing on buried weak layers.
Warm air to the mountain tops will moisten the snow surface. Wind slabs may be found in steep, lee terrain features from recent snow and strong southerly wind. Storm slabs could prevail in wind-sheltered terrain. These slabs may sit on a hard melt-freeze crust found up to 1400 m and to mountain tops on sun-exposed slopes. They could release as wet slab avalanches as the upper snowpack moistens.
A weak layer of facets and potentially a melt-freeze crust from early January is between 100 and 200 cm deep in most areas.
Weak faceted grains may exist near the base of the snowpack, particularly in shallower snowpack areas.
Cornices are very large and looming along alpine ridges.
Saturday will see a freezing level to 2300 m with periods of rain. Light rain or snow is expected for Sunday and Monday with a freezing level around 1500 m and 1200 m, respectively. The wind is expected to remain moderate to strong from the south to southwest.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
