Solar radiation can be intense at this time of year as we transition to spring. Expect the sun to destabilize slopes later in the day, especially thin or steep solar areas. Watch for windslabs in alpine areas especially where overlying the recent melt freeze crust.
Recent winds have created windslabs in alpine areas. The slabs are more specific at treeline and below. Watch for areas where recent slabs are overlying a suncrust that can act as a perfect bed surface.
Carefully evaluate the bond with the early March and Feb 19th crusts down 40 and 70cm. Recent wind loading will make this problem more reactive, as will periods of intense solar input.
Not a big change in the weather over the next few days as we are in a holding pattern for the next major system. Saturday will see a mix of sun and cloud, with light to moderate SW winds and a daytime high of around -1C at 2100m. If the sun comes out, expect snow to become moist on solar aspects quickly.
Avalanche control on Friday produced a few thin slabs up to sz 2. Forecasters were surprised at the lack of propagation in the upper snowpack despite the recent winds.
Moist snow was found on solar aspects above 2000m. On steep solar aspects, there are two crusts of concern. A crust was formed in early March and is found about 30-40cm down and was producing a hard clean sheer in only one pit dug. The Feb 19 crust is down about 60-80cm. There is still uncertainty with the reactivity of these crusts. Take the time to dig and evaluate these layers on steep solar aspects. Otherwise windslabs in alpine terrain should be expected from the recent SW flow and 10-15cm that fell throughout teh day on Friday. These slabs are widespread above 2600m and more isolated below this elevation to ridgelines and gullied terrain.
