Storm slabs have been sensitive to human triggering the last few days, especially on unsupported rolls at all elevations.
Time and cooler weather will help promote the bonding of this new snow load.
In steep sheltered terrain, human-triggered sluffs are running within the storm snow, gathering mass as they accelerate down slope. At lower elevations, these loose avalanches are running on a firm crust and entraining most of the new storm snow.
Mild temps, steady flurries, and mod SW winds have formed storm slabs at all elevations. Be wary of convex rolls, ridge crests, and open cross-loaded slopes where it may be easier to trigger the storm slab.
Cloudy, isolated flurries, and freezing levels hovering between 800-1400m the next few days.
Tonight: Cloudy with flurries, 5cm, Alp high -9*C, FZL 800m, mod-gusting strong SW winds
Wed: Cloudy with flurries, trace, Alp high -8*C, FZL 1300m, light/mod SW winds
Thurs: Flurries, 7cm, Alp high -6*C, FZL 1400m, mod SW winds
~55cm of storm snow has buried the March 11 crust (up to 1500m on all aspects, up to treeline on solar aspects). The March 7 (surface hoar/crust) is down ~65cm, the Feb 26 (surface hoar/crust) is down ~80cm, and the Feb 15 surface hoar is down 100-140cm and decomposing. Mild temps are promoting low elevation storm slab development.
Artillery avalanche control in the highway corridor produced numerous avalanches, average sz 3, up to sz 3.5-4. Many results reached mid to end of fans in valley bottom.
On Monday, a Parks field team, along with several guided and recreational parties, reported easy triggering of the storm slab at all elevations on unsupported rolls.
