New snow likely formed wind slabs in steeper alpine features. Avalanche conditions could vary with elevation.
New snow was likely deposited into wind slabs in the alpine on Tuesday. This may produce sensitive slabs where terrain breaks over steeply at higher elevations. I will once again be approaching these places with caution until I can confirm this possibility.
Cornices are large at this time of season. Best practice is to stay well-back from them on ridgelines and limit your exposure travelling beneath them.
Assess for the wetness of the snow surface as you travel, particularly as you transition from alpine to treeline elevations later in the day. Use caution in very steep terrain if the snow surface is wet, and limit your overhead exposure of steep slopes.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: alpine low -4C, wind north/northeast 10km/h, increasing cloudiness
THURSDAY: alpine low -4 high 3C, wind north/northeast 20-30km/h, mostly cloudy, 2cm new snow
FRIDAY: alpine low -2C high 3C, wind southwest 10-20km/h, mostly cloudy, trace precipitation
SATURDAY: alpine low -2C high 2, wind south 20km/h, mostly cloudy, trace precipitation
No new avalanches have been reported since the weekend. That said, we have a similar weather pattern to last week when small wind slabs were reported in the alpine and isolated wet slab avalanches were reported at lower elevations.
Between last week and this week we have accumulated up to 30cm of dry snow in the alpine above 1600m. Some of this snow has likely been blown into wind slabs in specific terrain features. Below 1600m the upper snowpack is isothermal, moist, and mushy.
The lower snowpack in White Pass is deep for this time of year with no layers of concern. Areas further inland, such as the Wheaton Valley, may have a shallower and weaker snowpack.
Cornices are still very large. Recent cold temperatures have kept cornice failures to a minimum but they should always be treated with respect in the spring, especially when the air temperature rises.
